From Pieland to Highland

After 13 years in retail and over 25 years as a hairdresser I decided that the everyday run of the mill was enough, David had worked for the local council for over 33 years and hated it, so we decided to sell up, pack up and move on. 

Last Day of Work

When I first joined B&Q I loved it, the people were fantastic, the company was caring, then BOOM it went, pay structure changed, bonuses removed, bank holiday premiums, all gone. So I decided that I wasn`t working with irate customers day in day out for less money and no reward.
​The hardest decision of our lives. 

We had to think of a business that we could both achieve together, and a friend of my Dad ran a Bed and Breakfast in drumnadrochit, and loved it. That was my inspiration, we just needed to make our dream into a reality 

​ We travelled around Southwest Scotland  looking for an ideal place to buy, not too far from home so we could visit family and friends. It was strange trying to find an area we could call home and work at the same time, but we eventually stumbled across Moffat, a quaint town just of the motorway on the Scottish Borders, and then fell in love with Dell-Mar a Victorian House with 4 letting rooms and a home away from home atmosphere,it pulled on our the heart strings  and we felt at home as soon as we walked into the door, you just know don`t you?

Goodbye Susan Barker

Living with my parents for 3 months was great fun, although I don`t think they`d agree, being back home is fab, brought back fond memories, but it was temporary we needed to concentrate on moving, I had lengthy phone calls with financial  advisers, bank managers and Trevor the previous owner, proving we could build the business up was quite a strain, but we had set our hearts on Dell-Mar and Moffat and I was determined to prove we could make a thriving business as well as a welcoming home for tourists.

Our First Day

Now 18 months later, we LOVE it, I can honestly say it`s amazing, people are so friendly here, we have made lots of new friends, I still so miss my Family and Friends from Wigan, but it`s the best move ever.
Work is very hard and me and David have had plenty of arguments along the way.
There are plenty of 6.30am alarm clocks with late nights until 10 or 11pm waiting for guests to arrive, still with a friendly smiley face, with a proper brew and a bit of cake after their long tiresome journey,  Every guest is lovely and they are all special, without them we wouldn`t be living our dream here in Moffat.

Our Guests

I would like share with you my advice, don`t dream it do it, 
We are proof that dreams do come true and with hard work you too can make your dreams a reality