Hotel & Hospitality
Located on the western boundary of the Black Isle, the Ord Arms Hotel occupies a unique and strategic position at both the start and finish of the iconic North Coast 500 tourist route. Just 13.5 miles west of Inverness and 6 miles south of Dingwall, the hotel is ideally placed for travellers exploring the Scottish Highlands, with Muir of Ord Golf Club nearby and Glen Ord Distillery and Visitor Centre only a short walk away.
Offering a hotel, bar and restaurant, the Ord Arms is popular with tourists, NC500 road-trippers and business guests alike. Following the purchase of the hotel in 2024, the new owners embarked on a major refurbishment and restoration programme, focused on adding value, modernising the offering, and enhancing the overall guest experience, which included the install of EV charging.
As part of the refurbishment, the owners looked closely at how the hotel could better serve modern travellers. Sitting at a key point on the North Coast 500, they quickly identified a growing issue: a lack of convenient EV charging options for visitors exploring the Highlands.
With electric vehicle ownership increasing rapidly, particularly among leisure travellers, the absence of reliable charging infrastructure risked becoming a barrier for EV drivers planning their NC500 journey. The challenge was to address this gap in a way that added genuine value for guests, supported sustainable travel, and aligned with the hotel’s role as a welcoming destination rather than a high-turnover roadside stop.
We purchased the hotel in 2024 and began a major refurb/restoration and part of this was looking at adding value and customer options. As the hotel sits uniquely where the North Coast 500 starts and ends, we soon realised the shortage of charging options for people visiting the stunning Scottish Highlands. Our partnership with Connekt EV Charging brings value and simplicity for our customers.
Connekt partnered with the Ord Arms Hotel to deliver a destination charging solution tailored to its unique location and guest profile. Following site assessment and planning, two 7.4kW wall mounted EV chargers were installed, providing a reliable and convenient option for guests staying at the hotel.
This setup allows visitors to charge their vehicles gradually while enjoying an overnight stay, dining in the restaurant, or relaxing in the bar - aligning perfectly with typical dwell times at the hotel. Connekt managed the project end-to-end, ensuring the installation was completed smoothly and integrated seamlessly into the hotel environment with minimal disruption to guests and operations.
The addition of two EV chargers has strengthened the Ord Arms Hotel’s position as a welcoming and forward-thinking stop on the North Coast 500. Guests now benefit from the reassurance of on-site charging at both the beginning and end of their journey, helping to reduce range anxiety and improve confidence for EV drivers exploring the Highlands.
For the hotel, the chargers add tangible value to the guest experience, support longer stays, and reinforce its commitment to sustainability and responsible tourism. The installation also helps future-proof the business as electric vehicles become an increasingly common choice for visitors travelling Scotland’s most iconic route.
By incorporating EV charging into its wider refurbishment plans, the Ord Arms Hotel has taken a meaningful step towards supporting sustainable travel on the North Coast 500. Partnering with Connekt EV Charging enabled the hotel to address a clear gap in local infrastructure while continuing to focus on comfort, convenience, and a warm Highland welcome.
Positioned at the heart of one of the world’s most scenic road trips, the Ord Arms Hotel now offers guests the opportunity to relax, recharge, and continue their journey with confidence - setting a strong example of how hospitality businesses can adapt to the future of travel.
