Tiny Scottish island attracts 100 bids to run guest house

Around 100 people from across the world have applied for a job to run a guest house on a tiny Scottish island which is home to just 15 people.

Canna, Inner Hebrides, is just four and a half miles long and one mile wide.

It sits 23 miles out in the Atlantic and is more than two hours from the mainland.

However a rare job opportunity to run Tighard Guest House on the island which came up last year has attracted 100 applicants from across the globe.

Delighted island owners, the National Trust for Scotland, said they have shortlisted ten leaseholders for the job with hopes of appointing someone by Easter.

Tighard, meaning ‘high house’ in Gaelic, is an Edwardian property build around 1904, which sits atop a hill surrounded by stunning views.

It was renovated as a guest house in 2006 and offers three letting bedrooms all year round, with large garden grounds and a small orchard and woodland.

The National Trust for Scotland were searching for someone with good hospitality and people skills for the job, as the house is one of the few holiday providers on the island.

Last year the previous owner announced they were leaving the role but would continue to stay on the island.

Candidates were asked to produce a business plan and will be taken to Canna for a tour and to meet its community development trust before being appointed.

The development trust is building homes for rent and hopes to double its population to about 30.

A spokesperson for the National Trust for Scotland said: “We’ve been delighted by the level of interest in the tenancy for Canna’s Tighard House, which attracted enquiries from around the world.

“100 formal applications were received by the closing date and these have been whittled down to a shortlist of ten.

“The next stage is for the Trust to review applicants’ business plans for the running of the guest house and then enable travel to Canna for viewing of the property and, most importantly, meeting with the community.

“This will give the applicants the opportunity to make sure that island life is for them and that they in turn can contribute to Canna’s wellbeing.

“Together with the community, a decision will be made on the successful application with a view to the tenancy being taken by around Eastertime.”