Nominee Summary
Rothie Cabins is a luxury sustainable rural accommodation business built from Scotland’s first COP26 demonstration home, created in partnership with Beyond Zero Homes. Set in Rothiemurchus, the cabins revive the footprint of Jim’s Bothy, honouring local heritage while showcasing cutting edge low carbon building. Founded by Louise & Graeme Fisher, who are living and working in Rothiemurchus, partnered with the Rothiemurchus Estate to create a business blending environmental innovation with deep community roots. With exceptional guest reviews, high occupancy, and a commitment to sustainable tourism, Rothie Cabins deserves recognition for transforming old land into a modern, climate positive rural business.
What makes your nominee stand out?
Rothie Cabins stands out as a pioneering example of climate positive rural enterprise, blending heritage, innovation, and deep local connection. Founded by Louise and Graeme Fisher, who live and work on Rothiemurchus Estate, the business is rooted in genuine commitment to place. Their vision was not simply to create accommodation, but to revive the historic footprint of Jim’s Bothy — a site woven into local memory, and transform it into a modern, sustainable rural retreat. The cabin itself is extraordinary. Built from Scotland’s COP26 Beyond Zero Homes demonstration building, it represents one of the country’s most innovative low carbon construction projects. The structure, made from home grown Scottish C16 spruce timber, was dismantled, transported, and re engineered through a unique partnership with Beyond Zero Homes and Rothiemurchus Estate. This collaborative effort required determination, specialist engineering, and a shared belief in climate positive rural development. Visitors consistently describe the cabin as immaculate, beautifully crafted, and set within spectacular surroundings. High occupancy and exceptional guest reviews reflect the success of combining luxury with sustainability — offering guests a way to travel responsibly without compromising comfort. Rothie Cabins encourages carbon conscious travel, offsets every stay through Stripe Climate, and provides a model for how rural tourism can support environmental protection while delivering a premium visitor experience. Rothie Cabins stands out because it proves that rural businesses can be innovative, climate positive, community rooted, and commercially successful — all at once.
Supporting the local community
Rothie Cabins was created with a clear commitment to supporting the Badenoch & Strathspey community. Louise and Graeme Fisher have lived, worked, and made their home in Rothiemurchus, and the business reflects their belief that rural enterprise should strengthen local livelihoods and protect local heritage. From the outset, Rothie Cabins has prioritised local partnerships. The business works closely with Rothiemurchus Estate, neighbouring businesses, and Highland suppliers, ensuring that investment circulates within the community. The cabin itself is built from Scottish timber and was re‑engineered with the help of local contractors, demonstrating how rural craftsmanship and innovation can come together to create a nationally significant project while reducing the carbon footprint associated with imported wood. The business also supports rural employment by building a small, skilled operations team drawn from the local area. This ensures exceptional standards of maintenance while providing stable, year‑round work in a region where seasonal employment is common. Community engagement is central to the Rothie Cabins ethos. A community open day celebrated the revival of Jim’s Bothy, welcoming neighbours, local families, and those with personal memories of the original site. A COP26 relaunch event brought together partners from Beyond Zero Homes and aligned with the Scottish Home Building and Renovation Show in Aviemore, offering “open doors” hours for visitors interested in zero‑carbon Scottish timber construction. By encouraging sustainable tourism, Rothie Cabins also supports the wider rural economy. Guests are guided towards local food, local experiences, and low‑impact exploration of the Cairngorms, helping neighbouring businesses thrive.
Maintaining high ethical/environmental standards
Rothie Cabins was designed from the ground up to operate with the highest environmental and ethical standards. Sustainability is not an add on — it is the foundation of the business, shaping every decision from construction to visitor management. The cabin is built from Scotland’s COP26 Beyond Zero Homes demonstration building, an award winning zero carbon structure showcasing the future of sustainable housing. Constructed from home grown Scottish C16 spruce timber, the building embodies ethical sourcing, low carbon design, and responsible land use. Its transformation into Rothie Cabins demonstrates how rural businesses can repurpose innovative climate positive structures, reducing environmental impact. The business offsets every guest stay through Stripe Climate, ensuring that visits contribute to global carbon removal projects. Guests are encouraged to travel sustainably, with guidance on low carbon transport options and responsible exploration of Rothiemurchus and the Cairngorms. Ethical standards extend beyond environmental practice. Rothie Cabins is committed to fair employment, local procurement, and transparent operations. The business works closely with Rothiemurchus Estate to ensure land stewardship aligns with conservation priorities, protecting wildlife, habitats, and the cultural heritage of Jim’s Bothy. Operational systems have been designed to minimise waste, reduce energy use, and maintain the cabin to exceptional standards. Digital processes reduce paper consumption, while streamlined maintenance routines ensure long term durability and minimal environmental footprint. Rothie Cabins demonstrates that rural tourism can be luxurious, climate positive, and ethically responsible - setting a new benchmark for sustainable rural business in Scotland.
