Mingarry Park is a true family story.
Emma and John MacDonald took over the former Clanranald Hotel, which had been run for many years by John’s parents, Fergie and Maureen MacDonald. With a vision to create something new and special for the area, they made the bold decision to demolish the existing building and start completely from scratch.
Planning permission was granted on 1st May, and with John’s hunting clients already booked to arrive for the stag season in October, the pressure was on. What followed was an extraordinary five months of hard work, transforming foundations into a fully built hotel ready to welcome guests.
In the early years, Mingarry Park operated simply as a bed and breakfast, with Emma preparing home-cooked evening meals for guests. As demand grew, so did the vision for what Mingarry Park could become. In 2017 the kitchen was doubled in size, professional chefs joined the team, and the restaurant was opened to the public — allowing both guests and locals to enjoy seasonal Highland cooking.
The hotel itself has grown too. What began with five bedrooms has expanded to eight luxurious rooms and suites, alongside the addition of the garden domes and hot tub suites that have become some of Mingarry Park’s most loved spaces. Mingarry Park continues to evolve year by year as Emma and John look for new ways to improve the guest experience.
Shortly after opening, Emma and John celebrated their wedding in 2013, holding their reception in the green shed at Mingarry Park — a moment that made the hotel even more personal to them.
Family life soon followed. Their daughter Megan arrived a year later, and Finlay three years after that. In the early years the family lived inside the hotel itself, in what is now the Mingarry Suite, with all four sharing the same bedroom. In 2019 they built their home beside Ming
From the very beginning, Mingarry Park has been supported by family. Emma’s sister Nicola has worked full-time at the hotel since the doors first opened, while Emma’s mum helps with housekeeping and John’s sister works evenings helping to keep everything running smoothly
John also runs Deer Hunting Scotland, supplying the venison used in many of the restaurant’s signature dishes. He previously represented Great Britain in Olympic Trap clay pigeon shooting and competed for Scotland at both the Delhi and Glasgow Commonwealth Games, as well as in numerous World Cup competitions around the world.
Emma manages the day-to-day running of Mingarry Park, balancing the busy rhythm of hotel life with family life — often fitting in an afternoon workout between guest check-ins.
Outside of the hotel, Emma and John enjoy pushing themselves with personal challenges. In 2025 they completed the West Highland Way Ultra together in 34 hours and 53 minutes, an experience that reflected the same determination and endurance that went into building Mingarry Park.
Both Emma and John were born and raised in this area, and their love for the landscape, the community and the lifestyle here is at the heart of everything they do.
Mingarry Park remains an ever-evolving and expanding vision — built with hard work, family support and a passion for sharing this special corner of the Highlands with guests from around the world.