Corrour Station Bunkhouse Is Closed

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

Posted: 26/01/2005 at 20:45

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?

Posted: 27/01/2005 at 00:31

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?

Posted: 27/01/2005 at 09:19