We have taken delivery of three brand new, custom built mobile fishing huts – a first for the River Dee.
Fully moveable and transportable, the new huts are completely off-grid with solar panels for electricity, a wood burning stove and a composting toilet. The custom-built huts are constructed on a steel pallet and do not require foundations to be built which means the Estate can move the huts to any of their beats on the River Dee.
Claire Bruce, Sales and Marketing Director, said: “Following Storm Frank at the beginning of the year we needed to think differently about the River Dee and how it evolves and changes. At Glen Tanar we lost 7 of our traditional fishing huts during the flood. Our 3 new mobile huts are completely moveable and transportable with the aid of a tractor meaning we have the ability to move them relatively easily.
What attracted me to the Armadilla style huts was not only their distinctive design which is really eye-catching when you see it on the banks of the river, but also their sustainable use of materials and low-carbon footprint.
Glen Tanar offers salmon fishing on four beats on the upper stretch of the Dee and is one of the greatest salmon fishing rivers in Scotland. Despite the unfortunate start we had to the beginning of 2016 with the flooding created by Storm Frank the Dee is back on track. Huts which have been washed away have been re-built, tracks which were washed away have been re-surfaced and although the landscape of the River has changed and the pools of salmon have moved slightly, at Glen Tanar we have actually found our catches have increased on last year.
We also plan to diversify the use of these huts and offer camping experience packages. They are so versatile and can be used across many different areas outside of the fishing season.”
The new mobile fishing huts were custom built by Armadilla Ltd, a family-run business based in Midlothian. The Company prides itself on its sustainable values. Ross Hunter, Designer, said: “The Armadilla has been exhaustively designed to minimise energy in its use for lighting, heating and cooling. The shape is a very efficient use of space avoiding the “cold corners” associated with rectangular rooms. The entire structure including the floor is covered with high performance close cell insulation keeping heat in on cold days and keeping it cool on hot days. All glazing is naturally double glazed.
It is ideal for use as a fishing hut and this is a first for us to custom build 3 for use on the River Dee. The longevity of these huts can be measured in decades so we are sure that they will stand the test of time on the River, especially since they can be moved in the event of any future flood.