Canna opens the doors to brand-new visitor hub

The need for accessible visitor facilities was recognised by the IoCCDT as the island continues to welcome an increasing number of visitors each year. Canna Visitor Hub boasts a range of amenities, including toilets and showers, public laundry facilities and a base for the National Trust for Scotland ranger, as well as a dedicated room for NHS health workers and other professionals for community use. Canna Visitor Hub now serves as a focal point for visitors when they arrive at the harbour.

Isebail MacKinnon, Director of the Isle of Canna Community Development Trust, said: ‘The new Canna Visitor Hub supports our vision for the sustainability of the island and community-owned tourism, and provides a good experience for visitors. By offering facilities at the visitor hub, we hope to encourage people to stay on the island for longer, moving away from short visits and towards longer stays and more engaged visitors.

‘We are very grateful for the support and funding received from those who made this project happen and are very excited for Canna Visitor Hub to be part of the island infrastructure for many years to come. Thank you to the Scottish Government, VisitScotland, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the National Trust for Scotland for their support.’

Managed by VisitScotland on behalf of the Scottish Government, the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF) was created to improve the quality of visitor experience in rural parts of Scotland that have faced pressure on infrastructure due to an increase in visitor numbers. In Highland mainland and islands (excluding Shetland and Orkney) there have been a total of 36 RTIF-supported approved projects to date, with a total RTIF investment of £7,937,883.

Chris Taylor, Destination Development Manager at VisitScotland, said: ‘The fantastic new visitor facilities on Canna are a core part of the tourism offer on the island. Along with investment by the National Trust for Scotland in Canna House, proposals for a new high-quality bunkhouse by the community and the ongoing hard work of small island businesses, this makes for a unique visitor experience and promises a very exciting future.

‘A healthy visitor economy is crucial and is at the heart of the community’s plan in Canna for a thriving, sustainable island – it attracts and retains people and generates jobs and incomes.’

Chair of The Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Ken Gowans said: ‘The Highland Council is proud to have supported the Isle of Canna’s visitor facilities through VisitScotland’s Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund, the Place Based Investment Programme and the Islands Infrastructure Fund. This project represents a vital investment in sustainable tourism and community resilience on one of Highland’s unique and remote islands.’

Ken continued: ‘This development will enable the local community to manage tourism more effectively, create new opportunities, and ensure that Canna remains a welcoming and sustainable destination for generations to come.’

The £771,000 project is operated and managed by the Isle of Canna Community Development Trust and led by the National Trust for Scotland. It was funded by the Scottish Government, VisitScotland, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Trust. An official opening event for the Canna Visitor Hub was hosted by the IoCCDT this month to celebrate this new milestone for the community and its visitors.

The Canna Visitor Hub runs on an honesty basis, and donations from visitors are welcome for the use of the facilities. For more information about the Canna Visitor Hub and all that the Isle of Canna has to offer, please visit the Isle of Canna Community Development Trust website.