New community visitor hub for Canna

Canna is the most westerly of the Small Isles archipelago with a resident population of 19, it welcomes 10,000-15,000 visitors a year. 

The hub has been created at the island’s pier by redeveloping the former coal store building which cost £771,000 to complete. 

The significant investment aims to improve Canna’s visitor reception by catering for people arriving from cruise ships, yachts and other leisure boats, as well as ferries and sea kayaking.

The new facility is to be leased to the Isle of Canna Community Development Trust (IoCCDT), which will operate and manage the building on behalf of the community, and plans to host a formal opening ceremony in 2025.

The 87-square-metre building includes toilets and showers for visitors, including yachters and campers. It also includes public laundry facilities, a base for the NTS Ranger, and a small room to be used by visiting NHS health workers, therapists and other professionals.

Funding for the building has come from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) which contributed £20,000, as well as project lead and owners of the island the National Trust for Scotland (NTS). Other funders include the Scottish Government and Highland Council.

The hub will be powered by the Canna electricity grid, which is mostly from renewable sources. It is fully insulated and has photovoltaic panels to boost grid supply, while LED lighting will help reduce energy consumption.

Geraldine MacKinnon, Isle of Canna Community Development Trust chairperson, said: “It’s great to see the new visitor facilities completed only five years after the project first appeared in our community development plan.

"We wanted all our visitors to have modern fit-for-purpose washing and toilet facilities close to Canna Pier.

“It’s also important for Canna to keep up with new visitor facilities on the other Small Isles as part of the slow tourism offering we are developing together.”

Ian Philp, HIE’s head of strengthening communities for Lochaber Skye and Wester Ross, said: “This is a great example of community initiative that will better accommodate increasing numbers of visitors each year as well as bring community benefit and income.

"It creates a valuable community asset on a remote island location while enhancing the visitor experience and supporting tourism. I’m delighted we have been able to provide support."