US reality TV show picks out Highland setting for 15th season
ABC's The Bachelorette has Kirkhill's Achnagairn Estate as its backdrop
Achnagairn Estate just outside Inverness is set to have a special part to play in ABC's reality TV series The Bachelorette. The luxury Highland setting will serve as the backdrop, as Hannah Brown vies to find the man of her dreams.
The 5-star estate, including castle, will feature on the reality show, with Gillian Lacey-Solymar, owner of Achnagairn, thrilled to be part of the showbiz glitz and glamour - as well as having the worldwide spotlight of millions.
"I suppose there was a bit of red carpet here and there", said Gillian, "but they were very, very secretive about it and we couldn't see any of the filming"
"They hid themselves away, so we're as excited as anybody to see the programme air on TV"
The Bachelorette, currently celebrating its 15th season, is scheduled to air on June 11th in the US, with work here in the Highlands being done to make sure the estate website can cope with an increasing amount of online traffic from people the world over eager to see Achnagairn Estate for themselves.
Gillian said: "They (TV producers) need to wow their many millions of viewers, and it's getting harder and harder to do that, that's why I feel we attracted them to the location"
"They sent over quite a crew to look over the place - taking in every nook and crannie - we know that people can often be demanding - they know what they want, and they want to get it"
"We all signed non-disclosure clauses and we were quite happy to do that, I mean they don't want people gossiping"
"If it captures peoples imagination then often they can flock, and in the case of the American tourist market, they don't just stay for one night - they want to see the whole of the Highlands"