Community by Loch Ness takes ownership of building as plan to create tourism and green transport hub moves closer
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Refurbishment work will begin this week on the former tourist information centre in Drumnadrochit as part of a community-led venture to create a tourism and green transport hub.
It follows completion of the sale of the building – now known as the Loch Ness Hub – by Highland Council to the community.
Funding has come from the Scottish Land Fund.
The building is expected to open this spring and is set to play a key role in the recovery of the area’s tourist industry which has been badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
The keys were handed over to Russell Fraser, manager of the hub, a new community benefit company set up by Glen Urquhart Rural Community Association (Gurca).
The work will include new double-glazed windows and insulation, refurbishment of the toilets and installation of air source heating, solar panels and LED lighting using grants received from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Scottish Government's Community and Renewable Energy Scheme.
Money for the project has also been raised from a community share offer.
With the handover the keys, Susan Clark, chairwoman of Gurca, thanked everyone who has supported the project.
"This marks a significant milestone in the project to create a social enterprise, take this building into community ownership and once again be able to deliver face-to-face tourism and transport services for Glen Urquhart, helping with the post Covid-19 tourism recovery and creating local employment with the ultimate aim of re-investing profits back into community projects," she said.
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