October 4 2018

Morrison Construction has begun the process of renovating and extending the former Dochgarroch village hall to form a £2.5m visitor destination on the banks of Loch Ness.

Scheduled to open in May 2019 the attraction will boast its own café, visitor centre, craft shop and external terrace with views overlooking the Caledonian Canal.

Freda Newton MBE, managing director of Loch Ness by Jacobite. said: “Our new visitor experience will be a place for visitors and locals alike to gather, share stories, and learn about Loch Ness and the historic Dochfour Estate.

“Visitors will experience a new retail offer showcasing the best of what Scotland has to offer within a unique and eclectic environment. 

“We’re extremely passionate about promoting incredible local produce, committed local suppliers and the Highland way of life to all visitors, made all the more fitting by the building itself which has been a community hub for almost a hundred years.”

8 Comments

#1 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 4 Oct 2018 at 11:30 AM

Some mistake surely -- £2.5mill for a shed level extension to an existing hall?

Even the figure given 9 months ago -- £500K was mentioned -- is a bit rich for what is being publicised.

Wonder where all the previous users of the village hall are going to go?

Plus the highland way of life?

Standing as it does in the biggest concentration of Tesco floor-space in the known universe ...
Good luck with that.

Design -- very fussy and looks very tight inside for the level of use planned.
Terrace with canal views -- to me that is either a bit of exaggeration or estate agent speak.
Needs a bit of height and a rain cover over the courtyard.

#2 Posted by Susie Dent on 4 Oct 2018 at 13:12 PM

Image 3 - Lochness is actually two words.

#3 Posted by TV boy on 4 Oct 2018 at 15:22 PM

#2 - Susie, watching 'Outlander' is not equal to understanding it. Don't blame underpaid junior designers for this visual mess.

#4 Posted by Dave on 4 Oct 2018 at 16:53 PM

Oh for f**k sake! Serioulsy? How does rubbish like this even get approval? The Norwegians have world class architecture at their famous beauty spots, and we are stuck with a shed by CAA and Morrisons? *slaps palm on face*

#5 Posted by Pleasantfield on 4 Oct 2018 at 17:21 PM

Wow no wonder the cost has gone to £2.5m. All those steps and hipped gables and valley gutters.
Far too fussy and for once could do with a more modern take on the design(did I really say that)

#6 Posted by alibi on 4 Oct 2018 at 20:02 PM

We should be embarrassed by this.

#7 Posted by Nairn's Bairn on 5 Oct 2018 at 10:40 AM

This was the same firm that did the Inverinate Sheik's country house below. While it's good that local firms are getting notable work, these schemes make one feel that the practice's background was 1990s timber kit houses, and while the scale of their jobs has broadened their design approach hasn't.

Visitor centre? Sprawling 1990s kit house extensions. A billionaire’s country residence? Big f-off 1990s kit house.

On the plus side they’ll be easy to build.

#8 Posted by Nort on 5 Oct 2018 at 13:27 PM

#6 we are embarrassed by this

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