The Cabot Collection has acquired Castle Stuart in the Scottish Highlands. The Canadian developer and operator of master-planned golf resort communities will rebrand the property as Cabot Highlands. The centerpiece of the property is Castle Stuart Golf Links.
Castle Stuart is located just five minutes from the Inverness Airport and within driving distance of Royal Dornoch, Nairn, Brora and Skibo Castle. Routed along the shores of the Moray Firth, the course overlooks popular landmarks including Kessock Bridge and Chanonry Lighthouse. Designed by the late Mark Parsinen and Gil Hanse, Castle Stuart’s rugged landscape can be described as a throwback to golf as it once was. The course offers holes framed by the water’s edge on one side and bluffs on the other, with rumpled fairway contours and infinity-edged greens that seem perched on cliffs over the sea. The property also has an Art Deco-inspired clubhouse, a practice facility and a putting green. A new short course is open for preview play and is expected to open in 2023.
Cabot plans to build a second course designed by golf-course architect Tom Doak. The course will play around Castle Stuart’s 400-year-old castle, incorporating natural contours, meandering through hillsides and open land with several holes along the water. Planning for the course will begin in fall 2022 and construction will begin in 2023 with an opening scheduled for 2024.
Real estate will be a key component of the community with sales expected to begin in 2023. The property will have cottages with upscale, modern touches. When homeowners are not in residence, the cottages will be available as luxury accommodations for visiting guests. The Cabot Highlands property will also include retail options, restaurants and communal gathering points.
Besides golf, outdoor activities include hiking, cycling, fishing, falconry and horseback riding. The city of Inverness is just 10 minutes away, where travelers can explore the Victorian-era marketplaces, cathedrals, museums and restaurants. The area also houses whiskey distilleries, many of which offer guided tours and year-round tastings.
“I couldn’t think of a better partner than Cabot to lead our next chapter. The work that’s been done at Cabot Cape Breton on the courses and within the community speaks for itself, and I know our beloved founder, Mark Parsinen, would be proud of the plans ahead to fulfill his original vision for the destination,” said Stuart McColm, general manager of Castle Stuart and the forthcoming Cabot Highlands. “Not only is this significant golf news, it is also a major boost for the regional economy of the Highlands.”
The Cabot Collection includes Cabot Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, the Cabot Saint Lucia resort community set to open in early 2023 and Cabot Revelstoke in development in British Columbia. Cabot recently announced the acquisition of its first U.S. property in Florida, soon to be known as Cabot Citrus Farms.
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