Global inquiries about Canna guesthouse lease
More than 100 people from around the world have inquired about taking on one of Scotland’s remotest guesthouses on the tiny island of Canna.
Tighard guesthouse and the island itself – the island is home to just 15 residents – are both owned by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS).
An Edwardian villa built in 1904, Tighard overlooks Canna’s shallow bay, a popular natural harbour in the summer for visiting yachts.
However, with only one private bedroom and three guest rooms, the successful new leaseholders will be expected to provide breakfasts and dinners and share their living room with guests.
The trust is reported to be ‘thrilled’ with the quality and diversity of the applicants, but has warned them that life and work on such a small, isolated island is not for the faint-hearted or those simply looking for a bolthole to escape the rat race.
A spokesperson for the NTS told the Lochaber Times: ‘We’ve been delighted by the level of interest in the tenancy for Canna’s Tighard House, which attracted inquiries from around the world.
‘A hundred formal applications were received by the closing date and these have been whittled down to a short leet of 10.
‘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 Easter time.’