BUILDING firm Rok has been awarded the contract for a £3 million upgrade of the historic Raasay House.
The Grade A listed island landmark, which is over 250 years old, was visited by James Boswell and Samuel Johnson on their journey through Scotland in 1773.
Formerly owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), it was taken over by the communi
ty last year.
New bathrooms, more bedrooms, upgraded IT facilities, new conference rooms, a bar and central heating are all to be installed in the building, which has been used as an outdoor centre for the past 23 years.
Thom Macleod, construction director for Rok's Inverness-based operation, said: "It is an extremely interesting project for us. Some rooms have been stripped back to the original bare stonework while in other areas we have to be very sensitive to all the historic features.
"It is challenging to refurbish a Grade A listed building in this way. When we complete it and hand it over for the opening next spring, Raasay House will be a year-round operation.
"That will coincide with the opening of the new ferry terminal and give Raasay a major economic and social boost."
Work started in March on the £12m ferry terminal, 35 years after the project was blocked by the island laird.
A new building is needed for the Raasay-Skye ferry with the existing facilities at Suisnish described as dilapidated and deficient.
Raasay House stands near the site of the previous clan house, and its records date back to the early 1500s. After a number of owners, it was bought in 1911 by Bairds the Ironmasters which opened an iron ore mine on the island, selling out to the Board of Agriculture in 1923.
The full article contains 296 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
