Daniel McDermott

Danny’s story begins in Surrey, but his heart has always been tied to Skye. As a boy, he discovered here a generosity unlike anywhere else with fond childhood memories of neighbours who gladly welcomed him into their home with tea and scones. This instilled in him from an early age the true essence of Highland hospitality: warmth, kindness, and belonging.

His career has taken him from the precision of Michelin star kitchens in Edinburgh to learning the art of wine in Surrey, where he became a certified sommelier with a longstanding love of Bordeaux. Each step sharpened his eye for detail and deepened his passion for creating experiences that linger long after the moment has passed.

Today, Danny guides the hotel with a welcoming devotion, weaving together and championing its rich history, remarkable food, and the stories held within its 17th-century walls. If he were to capture Kinloch in a single word, he’d choose gezellig, a Dutch expression for warmth, togetherness, and joy, or its Scottish counterpart, Coorie, that sense of nestling into comfort. For him, Kinloch is exactly that: a place where history, food, wine, and human connection come together to create something timeless.