Iron Age roundhouse plan moves forward in Highlands with £45,000 grant

The northwest Highland village of Gairloch is a step closer to realising a prehistoric dream.

Its museum has secured a £45,000 Highland Council grant to help build a full-scale replica Iron Age roundhouse.

The total cost of the new attraction is expected to be £280,000. The target date for completion is 2028.

Councillors on the Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh committee approved the community regeneration fund (CRF) award.

The project seeks to create an educational and interpretive structure that brings prehistoric Wester Ross to life.

Councillors agreed that the project will deliver benefits including heritage preservation, community wellbeing, skills training, education and tourism.

It would also boost local employment and volunteer opportunities.

The CRF’s aim is to support projects that “increase community resilience, tackle poverty, address rural depopulation, aid economic recovery and promote climate action.”

The committee also noted the approval of the following ward discretionary fund applications:

Kyle & Lochalsh Community Trust – micro-eco village (£2,920)

Garve & District Development Company – Connecting Communities (£900)

Torridon District Community Association – Replace Stairlift at Loch Torridon community centre (£1,000)

Torridon & Kinlochewe Community Council – purchase of defibrillator for community first responder scheme (£978)

Aultbea’s Men Shed – purchase of corrugated roof for a second shed (£1,127)

Toybox Children’s Centre – staff training (£930).