Community Power: Securing the Glenuig Inn for Our Future

At the head of Glenuig Bay, looking out across the Sound of Arisaig, sits a building that has been part of Highland life for centuries. The Glenuig Inn’s core structure was standing before 1746, surviving war, weather, and waves of change. For generations, it has welcomed those arriving by foot, horseback, or boat - a light in the wilderness when shelter and companionship were most needed.

Photo Credit: Michael Broderick

Today, Glenuig Inn is more than a pub or place to stay. It’s our social hub, an economic anchor, and a symbol of what our community can achieve when it works together.

Our community is small - fewer than 200 people live within its boundaries - but we are not short on energy or ideas. Over the years, we’ve built a beautiful village hall, run our own shop, created a history hut, and even launched a coastal rowing skiff project. All of this has been driven by volunteers.

When the moment arose to bring the Inn into community ownership, we saw both a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge: raise £700,000 in a matter of months. The opportunity: secure the beating heart of our village for generations to come.

Through an extraordinary effort, from neighbours investing in shares to friends donating prizes for raffles, from musicians donating their time to visitors sharing our story far and wide - we raised over £320,000 ourselves. The Scottish Land Fund recognised the value of what we were building, providing the final grant that allowed us to move forward with the purchase.

Smiles all around - taken the day we announced our SLF Grant Success.

Once the Community Asset Transfer is completed, Glenuig Inn will now be owned by the people it serves. That means we can continue its role as a place for connection, celebration, and opportunity, and evolve it in ways that meet our needs, from expanding winter openings to introducing new activities and events.

It’s not just about saving a building. It’s about keeping a light on in Glenuig - a light that says, “You are welcome here.”

It’s not too late to support our efforts! The Glenuig Community Inn Buyout committee is still working to raise a final £25,000 to reach the £700,000 total target, which will help cover ongoing costs, essential maintenance, and improvements to support the Inn’s future as a thriving, welcoming space for locals and visitors alike.

Find out more about how you can help.

SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY BUYOUT