The Story Behind Camden House Holidays: More Than Meets the Eye

Creating a Highland holiday home to be proud of — and keeping it that way.

When guests arrive at Camden House Holidays, we hope the first thing they notice is the setting. The mountain views, the surrounding forest, the peace and quiet, and a house designed to make the most of its beautiful Highland surroundings.

Perhaps they head straight out onto the decking,  light the wood burner or simply sit back and take in the view.

And that's exactly what we want them to do.

What they don't necessarily see is everything that goes on behind the scenes to make that moment possible.

It takes more than a beautiful house

We first welcomed guests to Camden House in April 2021, and since then we've learnt that running a high-quality holiday home is a rather different proposition from simply owning a lovely house in the Highlands.

There is always something to think about, something to improve and, occasionally, something that decides to stop working at precisely the wrong moment! And being in a relatively remote part of the country it is not always easy to get replacement equipment quickly.

A holiday home has to be ready for every guest, every time. The house needs to be spotless, equipment needs to work, the garden needs attention and all those little details that make a stay special need to be just right.

And unlike your own home, where you might happily put off a job until next weekend, a holiday home comes with a deadline. The next guests may be arriving in just a few hours.

That certainly focuses the mind!

Living with the realities of the Highlands

One of the things we love most about this part of Scotland is its wild beauty. The mountains, the changing weather, the forests and the feeling of being away from it all are a huge part of what makes Camden House special.

But that remoteness brings its own challenges.

Things aren't always readily available around the corner, tradespeople can be busy, deliveries take planning, and when something needs repairing, getting the right person and the right parts can take time.

The Highland weather also has a habit of reminding us who's really in charge. Gardens grow, storms arrive, rain finds its way into places you'd rather it didn't, and the elements never take a holiday.

We wouldn't swap the location for anything, but we have learnt that a little forward planning — and a fair amount of patience — goes a long way.

Then there are the rules and regulations. When you stay in a holiday home in Scotland you are assured of the highest safety standards due to the requirement to be licensed and inspected every 3 years. This license is costly, the tax rules have deteriorated for holiday home owners and the Highland Council is planning to bring in a tourist levy in the future, plus the need for planning permission to be able to continue to run our business. This makes what is already a challenging business , even more pressured to run.

The difference is in the details

From the beginning, we wanted Camden House to be somewhere that offered more than just a place to sleep.

It's an architect-designed, eco-conscious home with open-plan living, vaulted ceilings and large windows that bring the spectacular scenery indoors. We've worked hard to create a comfortable space where families and friends can spend time together, whether they're exploring Ben Nevis and the surrounding mountains or enjoying a slower day at the house.

The wood burner, with logs provided, the outdoor spaces, the viewing deck and the hot tub all contribute to that experience.

But every extra feature brings responsibility. Equipment needs maintaining, safety needs checking, and things need to be kept clean, reliable and ready for use. A hot tub, for example, isn't simply a luxury to install and forget about; it requires regular care, careful water management and attention to hygiene. It also needs to be treated with respect to avoid expensive breakdowns that cause the next guest’s holiday to be impacted.

The same principle applies throughout the house. We want everything to feel effortless for our guests, even though keeping it that way takes considerable effort behind the scenes.

We also believe that the little things matter. Thoughtful touches, useful information, good-quality essentials and being on hand to help with questions can make the difference between an ordinary stay and a really memorable one.

Trying to do things a little differently

We care about the environment in which we operate, and we've tried to reflect that in the way Camden House is run.

The house uses an air-source heat pump and underfloor heating, and we've incorporated energy-conscious choices and refillable toiletries into the guest experience. We also want people to enjoy the natural environment responsibly, whether that's walking in the mountains, exploring the local forests or discovering the lochs and rivers.

None of this means there is never room for improvement. Sustainability is an ongoing process, and we're always looking at how we can make sensible choices without compromising the comfort our guests expect.

For us, it's about finding a balance: creating a warm, welcoming and well-equipped home while respecting the extraordinary place we are fortunate enough to share with our visitors.

The things you don't see

There are, of course, less glamorous parts of holiday-home ownership.

Maintenance doesn't always wait for a convenient moment. Something that worked perfectly yesterday can develop a fault today. Furniture, fittings and equipment take wear and tear, and keeping everything looking its best means continually inspecting, repairing, cleaning and occasionally replacing things.

Then there is the planning: organising changeovers, keeping supplies topped up, checking that everything is ready, updating information and making sure guests have what they need before they even arrive.

We have learnt to expect the unexpected, although that doesn't mean we always welcome it!

Sometimes it can feel as though we're constantly working on something that guests will never even notice. But perhaps that's the point. If everything is working as it should, the house feels comfortable, the facilities are ready and guests can get on with enjoying their holiday, then much of that unseen effort has done its job.

Why we keep doing it

Running Camden House Holidays is a business, of course, and like any small business it has to be financially sustainable. The costs of maintenance, utilities, insurance, equipment and the general upkeep of a substantial property all add up.

But it is also something we've put a great deal of ourselves into.

We want guests to make memories here. We want families to enjoy time together, friends to explore the Highlands, walkers to return tired and happy from the hills, and people who simply need a break from everyday life to find a little peace and space.

We love the idea that someone might return home having discovered a favourite walk, watched the weather roll across the Grey Corries from the warmth of the house, or spent an evening chatting around the fire after a day outdoors.

Our guests are what makes our business worthwhile. The majority show care and respsect for our home and appreciate everything we do to make their stay the best it can be. We are thankful for our kind and thoughtful guests who appreciate Camden House as much as we do. Many of them return every year, which makes us really happy.

And when guests take the time to leave a lovely review or tell us how much they've enjoyed their stay, it is a reminder of why all those details matter.

Still learning, still improving

We certainly wouldn't claim to have everything perfected. Holiday-home ownership is a continuous learning process, and there is always something new to understand, something to maintain or another way to improve the experience.

What we can say is that we care deeply about getting things right.

Camden House has evolved since our first guests arrived in 2021, and we continue to put time, thought and investment into keeping it a place we are proud to share.

So, next time you arrive, put your bags down, take in the view and settle into the hot tub, we hope everything feels just as it should.

And if it does, we'll be quietly delighted — because you'll be enjoying the holiday, and we'll know that all the work behind the scenes has been worthwhile.

We welcome you to  Camden House Holidays. We hope you feel at home in the Highlands.