Community estate takes steps to improve finances

A community-owned north west Highland estate which almost went bust six years ago says it has secured much-needed new investment.

The Assynt Foundation bought Glencanisp and Drumrunie estates - a total of 44,000 acres (17,806 hectares) - 20 years ago.

But in more recent years it lost money through its running of Glencanisp Lodge, a former Victorian hunting lodge near Lochinver, as holiday accommodation. It has been shut since late 2019.

The foundation has now entered into a collaboration with Original Hotels to restore and reopen the lodge.

Under a separate partnership, it is working with the Woodland Trust on a new landscape management plan for the whole 44,000 acres.

It includes regenerating native woodland.

The Woodland Trust partnership will be funded from both public and private sources.

After fears of being on the verge of bankruptcy Assynt Foundation chairman Lewis MacAskill said there was now hope for the estate's financial future.

He added: "The foundation ran Glencanisp Lodge as a B&B and as self-catering accommodation for a number of years, and while a number of locals were employed and the lodge was kept busy, the foundation lacked the necessary hospitality expertise and this venture lost money over a sustained period of time.

"By late 2019, it became apparent that insolvency was looming.

"We decided the safest course action was to close the lodge in November 2019. The lodge has remained closed since then."

Original Hotels already runs four hotels in the Highlands, and a number of others across the UK.

It will lead the refurbishment of the 14-bedroom Glencanisp Lodge.

Mr MacAskill said: "When the community groups don't have the expertise, partnerships make sense."

In 2005, the Assynt Foundation completed its purchase from the millionaire Vestey family for about £4m.