Tomnabat Hotel

See also: Twelve old snapshots of Tomintoul
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Tomnabat Hotel stood on the edge of Tomintoul - a grey stone two-and a half storey house at the south-east corner of this small Speyside village. The house was located under the shadow of Tom na Bat hill (526m) where the Delnabo Road joins Tomintoul’s Main Street.
Tomnabat Hotel in 1937 Tomnabat Hotel in 1937
John Anderson chanced upon the property in 1936 while holidaying at Tomintoul and was greatly taken with both the house and the village. The property had originally been a shooting lodge, later becoming the home of the local doctor who had used its two front rooms for a surgery, waiting area and dispensary.
 
The house was large and spacious, with generous bay windows to the front and a sunny, glass conservatory on the east. The first floor had a number of large bedrooms with two shared bathrooms and a WC on the half-landing. Upstairs there were two or three attic bedrooms. A fenced yard enclosed several out-buildings, including garages, storage sheds, wash-room and even hen houses and laying sheds.
Postcard c.1954 showing Tomnabat Hotel, John Anderson at the gate.
After the death of John Anderson (1955) the hotel was sold and renamed the White Heather Hotel. The hotel was badly damaged by fire and the building itself was demolished in the 1980s.
Site of Tomnabat Hotel - 1998
Site of Tomnabat Hotel - 1998