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Argyll Holidays lays on luxury lodgings for crisis workers

Military guests line-up with park manager Steven Mure and head of sales for Argyll Holidays Fiona Kelly
Military guests line-up with park manager Steven Mure and head of sales for Argyll Holidays Fiona Kelly

One of Scotland’s most picturesque holiday home parks is providing free five-star holiday homes to front-line workers battling the coronavirus crisis.

Hunters Quay Holiday Village on the shores of Holy Loch near Dunoon is closed to visitors, but has now opened up to provide accommodation for key NHS staff and members of the armed forces.

They are being provided with luxury self-catering accommodation to avoid them having to make long journeys to where their skills are most needed.

The family-run business which owns the park, Argyll Holidays, has waived all charges for the holiday homes which can cost more than £1,000 a week to rent in summer.

Ambulance drivers, hospital workers and military personnel can now return each evening to the comfort of their own secluded space with their own kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms.

Keith Campbell, a member of the family which founded Argyll Holidays over 50 years ago, said his company’s eight parks would normally now be a hive of activity:

“We closed the gates to all of our parks at the start of the outbreak and are missing the buzz of families coming to have a great time on holiday,” he said.

Steven Mure with one of the ambulance drivers being accommodated in the grounds
Steven Mure with one of the ambulance drivers being accommodated in the grounds

“Our parks have always played a big part in their local communities, and we are keen to carry on reaching out despite the UK-wide lockdown.

“We hope to be welcoming front-line workers on our other parks, and our family has been very touched by the many messages of support we’ve received from our regular visitors.

“Now we’re greatly looking forward to welcoming them back when we receive the green light to re-open once again,” added Keith.

Although not open to the public at present, Hunter Quay’s facilities include a leisure complex with two swimming pools, sauna, steam room, and gymnasium plus outdoor activities and a climbing wall.

With almost 300 staff Argyll Holidays is one of the largest private employers in the region, and is based at the Campbell family’s farm in Lochgoilhead where their first park opened in 1968.

There is more information about Hunters Quay Holiday Village and the company’s other holiday parks on its website at www.argyllholidays.com

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