OT Tiree community move closer to Hynish takeover

Hynish Heritage Village, built on the most southerly point of Tiree to construct Scotland’s tallest lighthouse, is moving closer into community ownership.

Tiree Community Development Trust (TCDT) has been offered the opportunity to take ownership of all buildings and assets at Hynish.

Work began on Skerryvore Lighthouse, which marks a treacherous reef of rocks lying 11 miles south-west of Tiree, in 1837, when granite blocks were quarried from Mull and brought to Hynish to be cut and shaped before being shipped out to the reef.

Several cottages for the keepers were built in 1844 from the same stone, as well as a massive pier, and a tall granite tower for signalling with Skerryvore.

In 1982 the Hebridean Trust took ownership and began restoring the buildings. The store room is now a bunkhouse, and the Keepers’ Cottages and The Barracks, built for the construction workforce, became homes for island families at affordable rents. The Barracks is currently unoccupied due to water damage.

The Cowsheds became the Treshnish Isles exhibition, while The Old Smithy, renamed Morton Boyd House after Morton Boyd the naturalist, now houses the Skerryvore Lighthouse exhibition.

“The Hebridean Trust will be restructured early 2023 to become a community trust with a specific focus on Hynish, allowing the ownership of the Hynish asset to be in the hands of the Tiree community,” its website explains.

“This positive move comes after some uncertain years, with a lot of change – but done successfully, this transition could really help this island gem shine and offer up a lot of opportunities shown by a feasibility study.” A “Future of Hynish” survey received “a fantastic response”, the trust added, with a “well-attended” open day on March 4, for people to give their views into the future of the beautiful site. “The potential is huge and we hope that’s shining through,” the trust said.