A new luxury wilderness retreat in Sutherland is set to host a recruitment pop-up event as it prepares to open later this year.
Hope, a high-end nature-based retreat developed by conservation and hospitality company WildLand Ltd – owned by Danish entrepreneur Anders Holch Povlsen – is due to welcome its first guests in May.
Anders Holch Povlsen. Picture: Tom Ramage
Located near Ben Hope and Loch Hope, along the North Coast 500 route, the project has been six years in the making and involves the restoration of a former hotel and surrounding estate.
WildLand will hold recruitment events on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 13 and 14, at creative and hospitality hub Browns of Leith in Edinburgh, giving prospective applicants the chance to learn about job opportunities at the new retreat.
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While no figures have been released, roles are expected to cover hospitality, guest services, food and drink, guiding, and behind-the-scenes support.
Applicants should be “passionate about nature and committed to excellence”.
The development has been designed to blend into the landscape, with low-impact architecture, ecological restoration and sustainable tourism at its core. Features include underground parking and a connecting tunnel to minimise visual impact on the surrounding environment.
The site lies within a dark-sky area and forms part of wider rewilding and conservation efforts in the region.
Centred on a historic hunting lodge dating back to the 1870s, Hope has been reimagined as an intimate hotel and exclusive-use retreat. Accommodation includes restored cottages and a communal gathering space known as the Clachan.
Guests will be offered inclusive stays featuring guided outdoor activities, wellness experiences, and locally inspired food and drink, all shaped by the seasons and the surrounding landscape.
Activities available to guests will include paddleboarding, wild swimming, fishing with local ghillies, boat trips, foraging walks and conservation sessions such as guided tree planting.
Equipment and outdoor gear will be provided on site.Room rates start from £1,100 per night on an all-inclusive basis, covering meals, drinks and daily guided experiences. Self-catering cottages will be available from £425 per night.
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