Strathpeffer Introduction

Attribution: unknown (The ruin of Free Church in Jamestown)

Welcome to Strathpeffer

Strathpeffer stands in a beautiful setting at the head of the Peffery Valley, 200 ft. above sea-level and guarded to the North by the massive bulk of Ben Wyvis. Strathpeffer is a unique place in that it is the only remaining Scottish Spa. The benefits of its waters were first recognised during the latter half of the 18th. century, although the first Pump Room was not built until 1819. In 1861 a larger Pump Room was built , but this has now been demolished. That site is now occupied by The Tasting Pavilion and Tourist Office. The waters contain Sulphur and Chalybeate (Iron) but only the Sulphur Wells are available at present.

The outstanding Victorian Architecture of the village owed much to the development of the Spa, as does the presence of some outstandingly beautiful trees. The village has several small but interesting shops, most clustered around the Square. The old Railway Station has been converted and now houses the Highland Museum of Childhood, a wood-carver’s workshop and some craft shops.

Several walks exist around the village, giving beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. For the energetic, there is also a splendid 18 hole Golf Course. The population of Strathpeffer is in the region of 1200. A large percentage of its inhabitants are retired. Those employed are involved in Tourism, Forestry, Farming and crofting, with quite a number commuting daily, either to Dingwall or Inverness. The village boasts two vey large hotels (over 100 bedrooms each), several hotels and guest houses, Bed and Breakfast accommodation and self-catering establishments.

Strathpeffer is a good centre from which to explore and visit places of interest, including Loch Ness, Cawdor Castle, Dunrobin Castle and Gardens, Culloden Battle Field, John O’Groats, Skye, Inverewe Gardens with many other diverse and interesting places within easy reach. Hill-walking, sailing, horse riding, tennis and golf can all be sampled without travelling far.

The water feature in the Square, built in the early 1990s

Attribution: unknown

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Strathpeffer » Strathpeffer Places » Strathpeffer Pump room
Nurse lowering patient into mud bath
Nurse lowering patient into mud bath
The patient would have been lowered into the mud bath by an extremely skilled nurse
A Mud Bath
A Mud Bath
After drinking the waters, Mrs Mitchell would have endured more torture by having a mud bath
Victorian gentleman
Victorian gentleman
As you enter the Pump Room you are greeted by volunteers Maureen and Shirley, and, as you leave, the Victorian gentleman holding the "sweetie poke" (paper bag) is not offering a treat but suggesting you may wish to leave a donation in support of the exhibition you have viewed. You can, of course, purchase your own "sweetie poke" from the attractive range on display, or a souvenir from the gift shop.
Mrs Mitchell, preparing to "take the waters"
Mrs Mitchell, preparing to "take the waters"
Mrs Mitchell, preparing to "take the waters". Each picture is said to tell a story, and this one suggests domineering wife and hen-pecked husband!
Mrs Mitchell, preparing to "take the waters"
Mrs Mitchell, preparing to "take the waters"
These models show a patient consulting Strathpeffer physician Dr Fortescue Fox.
These models show a patient consulting Strathpeffer physician Dr Fortescue Fox.
For more information about Dr Fortescue Fox please read the page about him under Folk on this website.
Highland Railway poster in the exhibition
Highland Railway poster in the exhibition
Highland Railway poster in the exhibition. Visitors to Strathpeffer came via the Highland Railway Company which opened its branch line to the village on 3 June 1885. Until then, visitors made the final stage of their journey by horse-drawn coach, which was both inconvenient and not very suitable for the many guests who were older, in poor health or invalids. In the first decade of the 20th century the Spa was overflowing with visitors and the Railway Company built their grand 90-bedroom Highland Hotel, which opened in 1911 - it can be seen on the top left in the poster.

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