Uig Lodge
New island boltholes set to open on the Isle of Lewis
Read time: 3 min Added: 03/01/2023
A family-run business based on the Isle of Lewis has opened four new luxury self-catering apartments as part of their ambitious growth plans.
Uig Lodge is a fishing lodge, which was built by Sir James Matheson in 1876 and is located in a spectacular position on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides. It is available to let for family or group holidays throughout the year.
The current business was founded in 1981 and is operated by husband and wife Dickon and Elly Green.
In 1984, a smokery was introduced to smoke and sell fresh salmon to customers across the UK and the business further diversified in 2019 with the opening of Uig Sands, a luxury fine-dining restaurant in Uig, that offers dinner five nights a week.
With trade beginning to return to normal levels after the pandemic, the business decided to press ahead with plans to build four new high-end apartments close to the Uig Sands restaurant.
With support from Bank of Scotland, development of the new apartments began in January 2022 and was completed in August 2022.
Each holiday let features large timber frame rooms, underfloor heating, wood burners and stunning views across Uig Sands beach.
Due to the new development, the business expects a further 3 jobs to be created, providing year-round employment opportunities for locals.
Dickon Green, co-owner of Uig Lodge, said: “Since my father and uncle founded the business more than 40 years ago, our family has worked hard to develop the enterprise and help to boost the local economy.
“Promoting tourism and generating year-round employment here on the island is a key priority for us and something we’ll continue to strive for in years to come. After a tricky spell during the pandemic, we thought that now was the perfect opportunity to further diversify, by developing four new apartments near Uig Sands.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Bank of Scotland for its continued support over the years. This has enabled us to consistently grow our business and as a result, create new opportunities for people in the Outer Hebrides.”
Katie Kroll, relationship manager at Bank of Scotland, said: “Scotland is blessed with an array of stunning islands and the Outer Hebrides has always attracted tourists from across the world.
“Having grown up on the Isle of Skye, I’ve seen first-hand just how important tourism is to our islands. Before the pandemic, the islands attracted 219,000 visitors a year, adding £65 million to the Scottish economy so it’s encouraging to see people return and enjoy what’s on offer. Uig Lodge’s new accommodation will provide a luxury experience for visitors to the island with other local businesses benefitting from the increased trade.
“We’ll continue to stand by Scottish businesses in the highlands and islands and support them as they look to grow and prosper.”
