Scottish Enterprise Awards 2021

13 | Scottish Enterprise Awards 2021 Based in the heart of Mabie Forest, Dumfries and Galloway, Marthrown of Mabie provides a selection of uniquely styled accommodation with catering available for groups. Marthrown features four Glamping Yurts, a Tipi, a Bunkhouse and a campsite area with stunning views over to the Lake District and its famous Celtic Roundhouse. We take a closer look following its recent award for Best Holiday Cottages - Dumfries & Galloway at the Scottish Enterprise Awards 2021. The facilities of Marthrown of Mabie make it the ideal destination for an outdoor wedding venue, as a party venue, ‘glamping’ or a romantic break away in Southern Scotland. Marthrown is a hidden gem located very centrally within the UK and accessible from major cities. It is reached through a woodland road, which builds anticipation. With spectacular views, surrounded by its enchanting forest, Marthrown’s magical presence offers relaxation, fun and adventure. Pam and Mike Hazlehurst, the owners, took over the business 15 years ago when it was initially operating as an outdoor centre that was very rundown. Pam and Mike realised that they did not want to go down the route of transforming the business. In the first instance, they wanted to appeal to mountain bikers; being the only bunkhouse on one of the worlds famous Seven Stanes Mountain Biking trails. Soon, bikers were eager to return with groups of friends and their families. At this stage, they began to put up a couple of yurts and a tipi to provide accommodation more suited to families and marketed the Roundhouse for parties. Shortly after, they hosted the site’s first wedding, which was inevitably a tremendous success. After being featured on the Channel 4 programme ‘Don’t tell the Bride,’ the team at Marthrown of Mabie hosted over 18 weddings. “We have the ability for the couple to bring their family and friends and have two or three nights together to celebrate their marriage,” states Mike. Indeed, with one of the best views over to the Lake District Fells from its side of the border, Marthrown’s Roundhouse is a brilliant place to hold a celebration or a party – not least because it is the only one in the UK to offer overnight stays. It is safe to say that Marthrown is unique as a Best Holiday Cottages – Dumfries and Galloway business, offering both exceptional views and a personal, truly memorable experience. While the hospitality sector has been hit hard since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Marthrown has seen a rise in the number of guests wanting a safe staycation. “At the start of the first lockdown, we realised that bunkhouses were not going to be viable, so we set about converting two of our bunkhouses into self-contained holiday cottages, which have proved very popular – definitely the right decision,” explains Pam. The site was fortunate to get grants from various sources, which allowed the business to do this and put up two new deluxe yurts that are also both self-contained and positioned to make the most of the fabulous view. Currently, Marthrown is an entirely family-run company, and as such, does not recruit members of staff; however, it has been noted that this may change in the future. “As we get older, we will be looking for someone who has a love of the outdoor lifestyle and is keen to look after our guests,” states Mike. Moreover, in the near future, the business is looking at becoming more ‘green.’ As it is completely off-grid, Marthrown would like to install a wind turbine and various solar panels to replace its diesel generators. “We’ve felt the effects of global warming this year. Due to a dry spell, the spring water on which we rely was down to a trickle. This entailed us going down to the bottom of the forest sometimes twice a day to fill an IBC with mains water and transfer it into our tank – a time-consuming job, but it did mean that we could stay open and serve our guests.” Bar a few challenges that many businesses have faced due to the pandemic, economy, or weather, Marthrown of Mabie is doing an excellent job catering to its clientele and keeping its site cleaner, greener and more efficient than ever. It is unsurprising, therefore that at the Scottish Enterprise Awards 2021, Marthrown of Mabie is taking home the title of Best Holiday Cottages - Dumfries & Galloway, 2021. Company Name: Marthrown of Mabie Contact Name: Pam and Mike Hazlehurst Web Address: https://www.marthrownofmabie.com/ Oct21690