Historic inland lighthouse to shine again as a tourism site

Work begins tomorrow to turn a unique but crumbling lighthouse on Loch Ness into a beacon for tourism.

The octagonal Bona Lighthouse, designed in 1815 by Scotland’s most famous engineer, Thomas Telford, had been the only manned inland lighthouse in Britain until it fell out of use 15 years ago.

It was once an example of cutting edge technology, with a unique oriel bay window from which the light shone, guiding vessels from the Loch into the Caledonian Canal. But it was surpassed by technological advances.

Now an all-Scots team will be following in the footsteps of Telford, who constructed the canal, when they transform the Category B listed building into a visitor attraction and holiday homes. The 34 week project will cost almost £500,000.

Project manager Mark Smith said: “The building has been empty for 15 years and is derelict. We had been looking for opportunities to reuse it but it wasn’t without its challenges.

“We needed it to be able to wash its own face financially and sustain itself in perpetuity. This is a unique historic building with the most fantastic views of Loch Ness.”

He said holiday lets in the Highlands’ vibrant tourism market were the way forward.

“It’s wonderful that we are managing to bring this building back into use and still keep it in the public realm. If it had been sold to the private sector it would have been lost to the public for ever.”

Ronnie Ross, 63, who has worked on the canal for nearly half a century, first laid eyes on the lighthouse as a 16-year-old canal worker. By then the light was electric and automated but it was his job to check on it with a foreman on a weekly basis.

He is thrilled to see it saved with a £477,000 cash injection £330,000 of which comes from Scottish Canals, and a further £147,000 from Historic Scotland.

When completed, the holiday accommodation will be managed and let by the Vivat Trust, which in 2010 helped launch the funding campaign.

The project will see a two-bedroom holiday home created in the octagonal lighthouse and a one bedroom property created at the other end of the building, known as The Stables.

Ronnie, who retires next year, told The Sunday Post: “It’s fantastic the lighthouse is being saved. Its light was quite something in its day. It shone on the north-west end of Loch Ness and was a beacon for navigation for fishing, cargo and pleasure boats. It could be seen right up to Urquhart Castle, about 14 miles away.

“Nowadays the lights are on a giant tower but back in the ’40s the lighthouse keeper got to live in the house for free in return for looking after the light.”

Laura Norris, director of the Vivat Trust, said Bona Lighthouse had played an important part in Scotland’s industrial and social heritage and she was delighted that it was being saved, thanks to the generous financial support it had received.

A spokeswoman for Historic Scotland said: “A beautiful building in a spectacular setting, we were delighted to award a grant of £146,789 towards the restoration of this important landmark, helping to safeguard it for future generations.”

Transport Minister Keith Brown said: “We welcome this Scottish Canals initiative which, with support from Historic Scotland, has the potential to ensure the long term future of this important heritage asset.

“The refurbishment of Bona Lighthouse will enable its continued use and the potential to generate additional income. The Scottish Government is supportive of projects such as this which preserve and maintain the assets of Scottish Canals for the use of future generations.”