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Community bid to buy west Highland 'ceilidh house'

BBC The exterior of the white-walled Glenuig Inn. It is a two storey building and has two signs that read: "Glenuig Inn".BBC
The original parts of Glenuig Inn pre-date the Jacobite Rising of 1745

A community in the west Highlands hopes to buy a local pub whose original structure pre-dates the Jacobite Rising of 1745.

Over the years the Glenuig Inn has become known as a traditional "ceilidh house" where trad and folk musicians gather to play tunes.

Residents of Glenuig, a small community more than 30 miles (48km) from Fort William, are trying to raise enough money through grants and crowdfunding to make an offer for the property.

The current owner is open to selling to the community.

Helen Macrae is among residents involved in the proposed buy-out.

She said: "A lot of west Highland places are not run for the community.

"Our owner at the moment wants to sell to us so we can buy it for the community and run it for the community."

Musicians travel from the surrounding area to play at informal ceilidhs, traditional social gatherings popular in Scotland and Ireland.

On occasions there can be as many as 30 people performing.

The sessions had stopped at Glenuig Inn for a few years before the current owner restarted them five years ago.

A group of musicians playing fiddles and accordions sit around a table inside the inn. There are drinks on the table.
Musicians travel from the surrounding area to perform at Glenuig Inn

Other Scottish pubs have been bought, or are on the verge of being taken over, by communities.

The Old Forge in Knoydart was taken over by the local community in 2022.

About 70 of the area's 130 people are shareholders and many helped to raise £1m in donations and grants to buy and refurbish the pub.

In December, campaigners hoping to take over an Argyll pub received a grant of £147,411 from the Scottish Land Fund.

The 150-year-old Oakbank Inn - which has been shut for two years - is located on the banks of Holy Loch, a few miles north of Dunoon.

And a historic Borders pub is on the verge of moving into community ownership after securing more than £200,000 in grant funding.

The award in December brought the campaign to within £30,000 of the purchase price for the Templehall Hotel in Morebattle, with a further £45,000 being sought to refurbish and manage the pub, its function suite and adjoining land.