By William Coleman
As it enters its 50th year of operation this Highlands park has received high praise as they bag a golden award for their care and dedication to the countryside.
The family run Resipole Farm Holiday Park in Argyle will be celebrating their golden anniversary this year as they reach the 50 year milestone. Add to that their recent David Bellamy Conservation Award win, at its top golden level, and it double gold for the North Highland site.
World renowned botanist David Bellamy could not give high enough praise to the Sinclair family for their hard work and dedication they’ve show towards keeping the wildlife and natural environment safe with their many green initiatives. A topic that saw a lot of attention come award season as many parks across the UK did their best to go green and protect Mother Nature.
Rory and Karin Sinclair manage the multi-award winning site which was started by Rory’s grandfather almost 50 years ago. The site opened in the early 1950s and started welcoming guests who wanted to camp at the farm.
The site is located on a spot with a view that really has to be seen to be believed, postcards makers would be envious of the snaps holidaymakers can take when visiting. The park is set on the banks of Loch Sunart which is an idyllic location for couples and families who want to spent their holidays in one of Scotland’s most beautiful locations.
After opening for campers the location was officially designated as a holiday park back in 1968. Since then the site has grown significantly with the addition of touring pitches, activities and self catering stays in luxury lodges. The financial investment, along with hard work, has made this site a must visit.
Their hard work has certainly paid off. Each year the site has seen an increase in visitors from both the UK and overseas. Along with a whole host of national awards for the parks high standards.
Rory, who runs the park alongside his parents Peter and Joke and his aunt Fiona, said the family has always tried to ensure that Resipole remains a haven for wildlife. Deer, red squirrels, badgers, and a myriad of bird species are drawn to the 15-acre grounds which includes an ancient woodland with a nature discovery trail.
To ensure that the wildlife has enough natural habitat to roam the Sinclairs have planted hundreds of native trees and shrubs. These serve as perfect environment for breeding and food sources for the surrounding wildlife.
David Bellamy highlighted the abundance of high nectar-bearing wild flowers on the park which attract many different types of butterfly as well as honey bees and other pollinators.
Professor Bellamy praised too the absence of harmful chemical fertilisers on the park, and the use of water from its own bore-hole which is shared with neighbours.
His award also applauded the park’s shielded illumination to minimise light pollution, and provide the best view of the night sky in which the Northern Lights can sometimes be seen.
According to Rory, Resipole has always had a special appeal to lovers of natural beauty who value away-from-it-all stays in tranquil and unspoilt surroundings:
“Even though our family has been here for many decades, we still feel very privileged to be able to live and work in the beautiful part of the West Highlands,” he said.
“Perhaps because of our farming background, we’ve always been concerned to manage Resipole in a sustainable way, and it’s great to be doing so with the support of David Bellamy.
“We are all looking forward to our fiftieth celebrations next year, and welcoming back many of our loyal guests, some of who first visited as children and now have their own families,” added Rory.
