A scaled down version of a broch forms part of a remote Highland community’s plans to improve its visitor centre.
Arisaig Community Trust wants to create more room for exhibitions, storage and to sell local goods at The Land, Sea and Islands Centre at Arisaig in Lochaber.
And the trust’s plans including building a circular broch-like structure inside the extension to house a reception desk and toilets, as well as separating the shop and seating area. Brochs were circular stone strongholds built by the Picts.
Trust treasurer Gordon Stewart said: “The centre is in a wonderful position so we are trying to make the most of it so people can look out at the views while they are inside looking for information about the area.
“At the moment, we have a viewing room at the seaward end of the building, which looks out over the bay and the moorings and the Rhu peninsula.
“The new extension will be similar with glazing on that elevation, keeping it light inside the centre.
“We felt that creating a round, broch-like structure for the reception and toilets would be better than putting up flat walls and blocking off spaces and would mean that whoever was on reception would have a much wider view around the centre.”
Around 15 years ago, an old smiddy in the village was transformed into the visitor centre, which is run by the trust on behalf of local residents.
It is now used regularly for various purposes, including displays on the history, flora and fauna in the area, promoting local businesses, selling local crafts and promoting locally produced food.
But the trust is finding it expensive to heat and light as it costs around £2,000 per year “just to keep the chill off” and it is impossible to heat it to a level that would enable it to open all year.
The trust has now been awarded almost £162,500 from the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund. This money is to be used to help improve the energy efficiency of the centre and to help homeowners in the village reduce their own CO2 emissions.
Mr Stewart said that, as well as the extension, the project also included re-insulating the existing building and draft-proofing the windows.
He said: “The aim is to have a bigger centre that will be cheaper to run than the old smaller centre so it can be used throughout the winter.”
Costs of the project are currently being worked out.
The trust has also appointed two people, who are job sharing a project manager’s post, to work on reducing the carbon footprint of the village.