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Hotel Eilean Iarmain
Case study

Hotel Eilean Iarmain

A case study of Hotel Eilean Iarmain on installing an electric vehicle charge point in Southern Skye.

Southern Skye goes electric

Hotel Eilean Iarmain is a boutique hotel located in the south of Skye, dating back to 1786. The 16-room hotel is nestled in a picturesque bay overlooking the Sound of Sleat and the hills of Knoydart. It is made up of six historic buildings on the seafront and the pier outside the hotel is still used by local fishermen to land their catch. The current owners have been running the hotel since 1972. In 2018, they decided to install a charge point for their guests.

In with the new

The Eilean Iarmain is set in an enviable location, with many guests arriving thanks to its proximity to the North Coast 500 route. Following a successful application for funding from Energy Saving Trust, a 7kW double outlet charger was installed. The owners decided to locate the new charge point on the site of a former petrol pump as a solid base platform was already in place. A great example of out with the old transportation and in with the new.

Selling point

Once the busiest port in the south of Skye, Eilean Iarmain welcomes visitors from the UK and rest of the world. The hotel is now visible on the ChargePlace Scotland map and guests staying at the hotel are able to charge their vehicles for free. Guests can charge their vehicles at night, while they are recharging their own batteries in the comfort of the hotel. They wake up to their car being fully charged in the morning, ready to explore this beautiful area of Skye, or continue on their NC500 adventure. Having a charge point on site is becoming a key factor when people are choosing a hotel on Skye.

“It makes life easier for guests – and is possibly a decisive factor when people choose a hotel in the area.”

Michael Heggie, hotel manager

Hotel Eilean Iarmain accessed business charge point grant funding from Energy Saving Trust to help with the cost of installation. Funding support for tourism businesses may also be available in 2020-21.

Get in touch

For more information call 0800 0931 669.

Last updated: 28 October 2020