Church of Scotland puts Loch Ness kirk at Dores on market for offers over £70,000
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WITH stunning views over Loch Ness and the surrounding hills and farmland, it is being marketed as offering a peaceful living opportunity on the banks of Scotland’s most famous waters.
The “impressive” traditional stone building is also billed as “a once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase in a picturesque area of Scotland” – and it is for sale for offers over £70,000.
The only potential drawback for some might be that it is a 195-year-old former church that has come on the market, and if you fancied it as a “des res” conversion, then you would be living in a graveyard.
The C-Listed detached church building is located on the outskirts of the charming village of Dores, six miles from Inverness.
The church’s Session House at the front gate, formerly the watch-house to prevent grave robbing, is also included in the sale along with a small bit of land.
The accommodation comprises an entrance vestibule, main hallway, store cupboard, sanctuary and vestry amounting to 160 sq m plus a balcony of 33 sq m.
The building is being sold by the Church of Scotland after the congregation joined with nearby Boleskine Church and there has been no worship at the Dores building since the start of 2020. Dores and Boleskine has had no minister for some time, but has close links with St Columba’s Church in Inverness.
That building too is closed for worship but there are services held at Drummond School fortnightly and elsewhere in the city.
St Columba’s minister the Rev Scott McRoberts said: “It is a sadness for Dores people to have lost their place of worship, but I would hope that the building will still have a good future as it has great potential for community use.”
The sale material says the building could be used without the necessity of obtaining change of use planning consent, as a crèche, day nursery, day centre, educational establishment, museum, art gallery or public library, adding that it also has “potential for a variety of other uses, such as a theatre, cinema or entertainment venue, retail space or community resource subject to obtaining appropriate consents”.
Conversion to residential accommodation might also be possible, again subject to the usual consents says the sale documents.
The potential as a house is obviously high and the sales literature also gives information about local schools and facilities.
It adds: “The area boasts stunning scenery and provides a multitude of recreational activities and outdoor pursuits from hillwalking and climbing to horse-riding and fishing.”
There is a caveat however with the sale details: “The sellers do not bind themselves to accept the highest or any of the offers they receive.”
