Solicitor Paul Cannavan trades Edinburgh for Speyside in hospitality venture

He utilised a £25,000 loan, facilitated by the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans Programme and DSL Business Finance, to develop the hospitality site on a former clay pigeon shooting ground located near the Glenlivet Distillery.

With a fifteen-year legal career and previous experience in hospitality businesses, Mr Cannavan capitalised on his familial connections and childhood memories of the Speyside region to identify a business opportunity in the niche market of luxury accommodation.

Using four bespoke cabins constructed from locally sourced materials such as Scottish larch timber, The Dell at Glenlivet offers stays in one of Scotland’s most esteemed whisky regions.

In addition to the local sourcing of building materials, Mr Cannavan’s venture embraces sustainability with ground screw foundations limiting disruption to natural ecosystems, a borehole fresh water supply, and eco-friendly waste disposal measures.

The cabins are set within an international dark skies park, making it an ideal spot for stargazing with little to no light pollution. Each property has an outdoor bathtub to take in the views and, while they are connected to an electricity supply for power, there is no internet connection which Mr Cannavan hopes will encourage guests to truly switch off.

Mr Cannavan said: “The Dell at Glenlivet is unlike anything else that’s available in Speyside at the moment for tourists and holidaymakers. The location is the ideal spot for enjoying the outdoors or whisky tourism, as well as escaping from the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life and having a digital detox.

“We welcomed our first guests just last month and the initial response has been fantastic. Having the option for luxury accommodation so close to nature and the Cairngorms National Park is a big draw for people. Even though the site has four properties, they are well-spaced so it still feels totally private and secluded.

“Sustainability was a big focus as part of the design process and I’m pleased that the cabins have turned out so well, fitting in with the woodland surroundings with a low carbon footprint. We’re looking forward to welcoming guests from all over the UK and beyond throughout the years ahead.”

Murray Marshall, loan officer at DSL Business Finance, added: “Paul approached me with a detailed business plan and vision for what he was looking to achieve.

“He engaged with me early in his journey and we worked together to ensure his funding was available when required.

“It has been great to see Paul’s vision become a reality with a fantastic offering to tourists in the Moray region.”

Barry McCulloch, senior manager, UK Network, Scotland at the British Business Bank, said: “Hospitality and tourism businesses, particularly those linked to Scotland’s whisky-making heritage, are a vital part of our economy and continue to drive visitors from all over the world to see what Scotland has to offer.

“It’s great to have been able to support Paul with his escape from the city and a career change too. The Start Up Loans scheme was designed to support creative, ambitious entrepreneurs with the funding they need to take the leap into new ventures and become their own boss.”