Derek Holt


1929 - 2010

Leisure entrepreneur. Born in Bury (Lancashire), the son of a cobbler, Holt left school at 14 and established Holt's Dairy delivering milk in the local area. He came to Scotland with his wife, June, in 1961. Settling in Gourock, the couple opened a successful caravan park on the site of the former artillery battery on the slopes above Cloch Point. They established further holiday parks at Silver Sands in Lossiemouth and on the Erigmore Estate at Birnam. With interests in sailing, Holt realised Scotland could benefit from marinas and established the first, Kip Marina, at Inverkip in 1971. He bought the Craobh Marina at Craobh Haven in 1994 and established Fairlie Quay Marina in 2003.

He acquired Skibo Castle and Estate in 1982, but sold this to become the last Laird of Gigha between 1992 and 2001, living in Achamore House, before retiring to Surrey. Holt also farmed the Drumad Estate by Bankfoot in Perth & Kinross. His company Holt Leisure Parks continues under the management of his daughters.


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