Soapbox

Alan Kimber wrote:
Well-known world-wide - Outdoor Capital asset to close


Please could the owners of Corrour Bunkhouse and Restaurant reconsider, if the rumour is correct, that they are closing down for good, one of Britain’s highest, most remote and unique bunkhouses and restaurants? If the Outdoor Capital of the UK is to progress and thrive it is of great importance that such facilities remain in place. It should be a priority of the OCUK Director’s to contact the owners and their agents to try and stop the possible closure. I know that buyers are available to take on the business if the owners wish to sell.

All along the famous Glasgow to Fort William train route, small bunkhouses are starting up and thriving, adding a whole new dimension to access to the hills of Scotland. Locals and visitors from Lochaber can go out to a splendid meal provided by Charlie and Liz in the Corrour Restaurant and return on the late train. All of this will cease if the closure goes ahead and some people may be out work as a result.

In recent years the bunkhouse and its facilities have been responsible for saving the lives of hillwalkers in atrocious weather, and in need of shelter and sustenance. Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team have plans for using the location and staff to help save lives. This valuable lifeline will be lost if a closure goes ahead. The many hillwalkers who will still visit this area, are in danger of being denied a marvellous and at times life-saving facility, which enhances their experience of this wild and remote part of Scotland.

On 2nd September 2003 at the opening of the refurbished SYHA Loch Ossian Hostel attended by 100 people, the landowners publicly re-iterated their own commitment to walkers with their own bunkhouse and restaurant and gave an assurance that they would support walkers in the area. TGO the outdoor magazine use this area as a base for cross-Scotland treks. If the facilities are closed, no toilets, bedding and cooking will be available. This could lead to problems with human waste. Currently the Scottish Independent Hostels have maps showing the location as a bunkhouse and people are turning up to find the place shut. Future maps already in the pipeline could further exacerbate this problem.

Details of the bunkhouse have been removed from the estate website www.corrour.co.uk and possibly this is how the rumour has been spreading. Some details of the restaurant remain and in the words of the estate….”The restaurant is a unique modern building in the style of an Austrian hut, with a homely ambiance and is a haven to walkers and visitors to Corrour. Relax by a log fire and enjoy “The Corrour Experience” in a unique and friendly environment. The restaurant has a small shop area offering basic supplies for the needs of walkers, fishers, stalkers and visitors and has a public telephone”…..

Why should the estate wish to close this place down?

If any readers feel the same way as I do please contact the Lochaber News and your local MSP with your letters. In Lochaber we have some landowners who happily support the wider community and the OCUK concept, but in this area it appears not to be the case.

Thanks,

Alan Kimber
Chair of Scottish Independent Hostels Ltd
Secretary of Lochaber Mountain Access Group
Director of Nevis Partnership
International Mountain Guide and Hostel owner.
Tel: 01397 700451

Our club has used Corrour in the past and it is certainly a superb facility (see http://www.craggy.org.uk/corrour_27-02-04.php). Our understanding from conversations with Liz and Charlie (admittedly some time ago)is that the railway were wanting to take back the bunkhouse (it is a leased apparently). There was also talk of a proposal for a wigwam type facility (similar to the one near Tyndrum?) but maybe this has fallen foul of planning regulations?

Surely the best way to determine if the rumour is true or false would be for Scottish Independent Hostels Ltd to contact Liz and Charlie direct, or is it not that simple?

I think one problem with this is that it's so close to the Youth Hostel. There is alternative accomadation within half a mile and folks looking to book may check to see whether there is a Youth Hostel first (better known) before they go looking if there are any independent hostels. To be honest I can't see how it can be hugely profitable, can there be that much demand for accomadation? I was there last summer (June)and I must admit I stayed in the Youth Hostel, out of curiosity and the fact that it's abit further from the train lines and has an incredible situation / view.
The Youth Hostel was full one night but I didn't see many people coming down the track from the station so don't think the bunkhouse was. When we popped in for a bacon buttie to the restaurant (and it was a superbe buttie) we were the only folks there and that was a lunch time. I don't understand how you could keep it open if it never makes a profit?

It is that simple, I phoned the bunkhouse and can confirm that it is now closed on a permanent basis.

Liz and Charlie are contractually unable to comment further, however I believe there are moves afoot to collate people's concerns about the closure, more details when we have them.

The closeness of the Youth Hostel has had little effect on the usage of Corrour Bunkhouse. The place was full for most of last year.
The Youth Hostel is closed in the winter, recently, Corrour has been open.

I was in the restaurant on 21/8/04. It was packed and Liz and Charlie indicated that business was good.
As Alan Kimber mentioned, "I know that buyers are available to take on the business if the owners wish to sell".

I think there is more to the decision than economics and the railway authorities have probably played no part.
I'm always suspicious of the workings of Corrour Estate and I'm not the only one with that thought!

the bunkhouse has always been full when i've wanted to go - though perhaps they know my name....

i know the estate have some very nice holiday cottages in the area, perhaps the estate wishes to move further in that direction?

personally i'd like to stay at the YHA in winter, i hope they sort that out.

I can confirm from my experience that the bunkhouse is usually more full than the SYHA hostel. Actually, neither of them had problems getting enough people as far as I can tell.

I was up there last year walking from Corrour to Rannoch. I am used to getting off the train on the west highland line and having the platform to myself, but Corrour platform was packed. Seems a pretty busy place, and it would be sad to lose it.

Hmmm, seems a shame, but they've never been struggling for business when I've been there. They even turned me and two companions away quite rudely on 28/8/04 (one week after you Nobby Hillwalker), after having run for 11 hours from Fort Bil via Ben Nevis, CMD, Aonoach Mor and Aonach Beag, when all we asked for was a cup of tea. We accepted their response to our food enquiry that the kitchen was closed, but to turn us away for a cup of tea was bloody miserable. On the other hand, Nick down at the Youth Hostel couldn't have been friendlier and I hope he can cope with the influx of walkers this move will bring. Just hope he stocks up on Ardbeg first!

if the overheads are more than the money it takes, they will shut. After all they are a business not a charity.

The Loch Ossian Youth Hostel is available through the winter for private hire at www.rentahostel.co.uk

Walked in to the station bunkhouse on the 2nd of jan 2012 after spending new year at staoineag bothy. My three dogs and I experienced Blizzard and white out conditions and although well equipped we were indeed very happy to find a warm welcome,shelter and food as the expected train did not arrive (Sunday service, oops).Had a long wait for a train going south and arranged to be picked up at Bridge of Orchy.
On the 3rd my brother an a friend also walked out to Corrour only to find that all trains were off due to the hurricane winds and Blizzard conditions. Although also well equipped they could have faced a very nasty night if it was not for the kindness of the staff who gave them food and shelter after which they walked to the Youth Hostel to spend the night.
The station bunkhouse's closing day was indeed the 2nd.I was told however that it was closing for a refurb and then being put up for lease again and that S.Y.H.A had opted out due to excessive running costs..