Passionate About Inverness & The Highlands
Kathleen stepped down from secondary school teaching in 2004 and John from land and property management with the Forestry Commission in 2010 to devote themselves full-time to running the residential letting agency they established in 2004.
Simply Let received accolades for its professionalism and customer-care and it was with some reluctance that John and Kathleen sold the business earlier last year in order to devote their time to doing more of the things they love – walking, climbing, travel and generally enjoying life.
Having at one time managed a licensed guest house on the Isle of Eigg, Kathleen has a flair for hospitality – something she applies to excellent effect in the management of King Street Apartment.
John is happiest when climbing Scotland’s hills and has also climbed in Nepal and the Alps, having reached the top of Mont Blanc with his son in 2009. Both John and Kathleen are interested in social history and love finding out all about Inverness’s intriguing past.
We asked Kathleen a few questions..
How long have you lived in Inverness?
I moved to Inverness with my husband, John, and our two children, Fiona and Christopher, in 1983. At that time, we had a decision to make: move to Edinburgh or Inverness? For us, it was a no brainer – we love hillwalking amongst the very many outdoor activities and cultural delights on our doorstep here in Inverness, the capital of the Highlands.
In one sentence, how would you describe Inverness?
No matter which way your fancy takes you whether on foot , by car, bus or train, the area in and around Inverness constantly surpasses expectations, in terms of magnificent scenery; first class cuisine; superb golf courses; stunning road routes ( e.g. the NC500); extensive cycle paths; challenging off road cycling ; a great variety of wildlife – air, land and sea; creative culture and so much more all within a 30 mile radius of Inverness, the Capital of the Highlands.
What is your favourite place in Inverness, and why?
An almost impossible question to answer but I think I am torn between an early evening walk in late summer by the beautiful river Ness in front of the fabulous Eden Court Theatre and the delightful walks through the very varied Merkinch Nature Reserve where one can enjoy so much wildlife and so much of historical significance to the area.
What is your favourite restaurant in Inverness?
Again, I have several as we are truly spoilt in Inverness with a great number of excellent places to eat out – it is essential to book in advance as they are often fully booked well in advance. My Top 5 would be: Rocpool; The Mustard Seed; Cafe 1; The Glenmoriston; Kingsmills Hotel
When you have friends and family visit Inverness, where is the first place you take them and why?
Oh dear (don’t tell John) … shopping in the Eastgate Centre and the Victorian Market, with coffee at Café Nero on the High Street, the lunch on the decked area at The Kitchen overlooking the River Ness (….if we can get a table). Visitors like to explore the centre of Inverness – they love the different shops we have here and the pleasant environment for shopping. We have a good variety of smaller shops not seen in other towns and cities and visitors do like to spend money on special gifts etc. when they come here.