The operators of a Perthshire camp have defended the site’s managers after its appearance on TV show Four in a Bed.
Cultybraggan Camp, a former prisoner of war camp, appeared on the Channel 4 series this week.
During Wednesday’s episode, other B&B operators visited the camp near Comrie to review the facilities on offer.
The contestants discovered that the managers of the camp, Sandie Donaldson and Chloe Watson, do not help with checking guests in.
One couple also found dirty dishes in their hut, refusing to cook their breakfast with the equipment provided.
Cultybraggan finished in last place based on votes from the other contestants.
‘It’s not often you see something like Cultybraggan Camp on Four in a Bed’
The camp is owned by the village of Comrie and run by the Comrie Development Trust.
Trustee Davie Robertson told The Courier: “I didn’t think the girls came over particularly well, but it’s not often you see something like that where the girls aren’t at the place at all.
“It’s purely self-catering and self-booking in.
“That’s not featured in the show a lot, it’s very much hotels, B&Bs, that kind of thing.”
Davie believes the other contestants were not used to what Cultybraggan offers its guests.
He said: “There’s nowhere like it.
“If you’re coming to stay at Cultybraggan you’re here for walking, cycling – it’s a good base to tour from.
“Glasgow and Edinburgh are an hour away; Stirling is over the hill, Perth is along the road.
“There are lots of walks and Loch Earn is not far away, it’s a whole different ball game.
“The girls, give them their due, tried to plug everything but there were things they didn’t mention as time was limited.”
Davie concedes that some of the issues raised in the episode were valid.
‘Hopefully we’re on top of the cleanliness issues now’
He said: “Cleanliness is something we’ve had issues with and hopefully we’re on top of that now.
“The huts looked good but when you come down to the nitty-gritty, with the pots and the pans, that let us down a bit.
“Simple things like the cattle grid was mentioned, we’re in the process of removing that cattle grid now.
“The reason it was there was to stop the deer from coming into the camp.
“We’ve got an orchard there and allotments, people put a lot of time into them and the last thing they want is deer to eat everything.
“We don’t have that problem any more.”
Davie hopes that the camp’s appearance on the show will entice more visitors to the area.
He added: “When they were filming here I asked what happens after and they said that you usually get a spike after the episode goes out.
“People say, ‘I never knew that existed’ and they come back. We’re hoping for a bit of that, it’s getting the name out there.
“One thing that wasn’t mentioned is that it’s owned by the village.
“I think that would have been a good point to get across and it’s a pity they never mentioned it.”
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