Official opening of new Sleat centre

A NEW £1.8m community hub was officially opened in the south of Skye on Saturday with an afternoon of ceremony and celebration.

An Crùbh in Sleat, which is owned and run by Camuscross and Duisdale Initiative (CDI), was declared open by pupils of Bunsgoil Shlèite.

The afternoon began with a procession led by piper Derek Forrest. Inside visitors enjoyed drinks before the family fun activities began. The afternoon was spent tasting food prepared by An Crùbh’s chef Lawrence Millot as well as fayre stocked in the shop. Games and crafts kept the children happy, while information displays and a chat entertained adults.

In the evening, a cèilidh and barbecue rounded off the day with music from the Malin Lewis Band.

CDI chairman Mark Wringe said: ‘ We are very pleased with how the afternoon went and the evening cèilidh was well-attended, with fabulous food prepared by our chef and assistant. The afternoon food and drink tastings were provided by suppliers to the shop.’

The hub boasts a licensed shop and café, post office, community hall, meeting room, exhibition space, toilets and showers and spectacular views over the Sound of Sleat.

Situated just above the A851 near Duisdale and Camuscross, the building was completed on December 23 2016 and run by the local community. Funding from the National Lottery was secured for the build while the community’s continuing fundraising efforts are taking the business side forward.