Exciting project for Harris Lodge

The Isle of Rum Community Trust are looking for expert and non-expert volunteers to help with an eco-restoration of a tiny cottage at Harris, on the southwest edge of the island, 8 miles from the next, nearest inhabited house.

The Trust are keen for people to live once again, as visitors, within an emptied landscape that was once home to many.  The grass covered ridges left by their lazy-bed agriculture surround Harris lodge and gaze out at the Atlantic, providing grazing for the Rum ponies, red deer, feral goats and highland cattle that currently inhabit this corner of the island.

The community-owned village of Kinloch currently provides the only habitable accommodation on the island, situated at Loch Scresort on Rum’s eastern edge.  A short 4WD journey over the hill, is Harris Lodge, built as a sporting lodge in the late 1800’s.  It is now in a serious state of disrepair and, thanks to its incredible views of Atlantic storms, it will soon very likely lose it its roof.   Intervention is urgently required to rescue the building and to renovate it to modern standards. 

The Trust feels that a high-quality, visitor experience created at Harris would provide the community with income to help both in the running of Kinloch village and to support the development of projects such as this one.

Alex Mumford, is very clear on the importance of the financial benefits to the island of such a development.   “A stronger, healthier, local economy will have tremendous benefits for the village,” Mr Mumford said, “particularly at this very difficult time for local businesses.”

IRCT’s chairman, Cllr Denis Rixson, noted that, “Without the generous support of a benefactor with strong connections to Rum the project could not have moved beyond the feasibility stage.  We are now seeking to match this funding from agencies, charities and other funders to make this exciting project a reality.” 

The lodge at Harris is a stunning resource that would allow unrivalled access for a wide range of people to an incredible Scottish landscape.  The need for off-grid, eco-living would further add to the appeal.  The Isle of Rum Community Trust are on a mission to ensure that at Harris, people can live again.  That visitors from around the world can have a unique, affordable, high-quality experience of the very best of what Scotland has to offer. We need your help to make this happen.  Contact harris.isleofrum@gmail.com for further information.