Dan Rose-Bristow

Name: Dan Rose-Bristow
Age: 37
Born: UK
Time in Scotland: 10 years

Life as a London-based bond salesman for a US broker suited Dan Rose-Bristow until the opportunity arose in 1999 to become managing director of the remote Torridon Hotel in the west coast of Scotland.

"I'd lived in London until the age of 27, apart from some time studying in Leeds and France," says 37-year-old Dan Rose-Bristow.

"My wife and I were adamant we would not raise a family in the city. Her family owned a hotel in Scotland and we thought we'd be good at managing a property.

"We instantly liked the country lifestyle. Running a hotel 24/7 is not really a quiet way of life, but you if you like remote places, the Highlands are ideal."

Going online

Easy local access to the internet across the Highlands has helped with running the Torridon.

Dan looks after the hotel's blog and Twitter account, using social media to encourage bookings through the website.

"Staff all contribute to the blog, including kayaking instructors, gardeners, wedding planners and our chef. Guests have also subscribed to us as followers on Twitter.

"Online reservations have doubled in three years to nearly 30% and I hope it will be over 50% in three years time."

A youthful image

Since Dan took over as manager at the Torridon, the hotel has gone from strength to strength.

"Turnover has grown from £950k to over £1.5 million last year," says Dan. "When I started we had 35 staff but we now employ over 50 people from around the world. We won Hotel of the Year from catering magazine SLTN and Hotel Review Scotland plus many other awards.

"A more youthful and contemporary outlook has developed our brand, image and ultimately the whole product."

A new way of life

Raising a young family, with three children under the age of 10, means that a living in a rural area has been a benefit.

"We're lucky to live in a beautiful area which is safe and secure. My children go to a school with 10 pupils in total and get a great education."

Though there are many benefits to living in the Highlands, Dan is realistic about some of the drawbacks.

"You learn to adapt your lifestyle and stock up. Popping out to the shops is a two hour return journey. You become more self sufficient and grow your own vegetable (we have a two acre kitchen garden).

"I miss just going out to the pub and the immediate choice of entertainment be it restaurants, cinema theatre. 

You make a bigger effort to see friends and travel the country to do so – a five hour return journey for a party in Perth is normal!"

But Dan still doesn’t feel a desire to move back to London.

"I've been there and done that and would not go back. There's too much concrete, people and general noise as well as bad quality of air.

"The healthy lifestyle and pace of life here suits us as a family."

Related links

• The Torridon