'Slow tourism' initiative aims to double population of small island

A small community in the Inner Hebrides has received financial backing to develop a "slow tourism" hub, aiming to increase the island's population to 40 residents. A grant of 250,800 from the Scottish government will support the planning phase to renovate and expand an 18th-century barn on the Isle of Canna, situated south of Skye.

The proposed facility, with an estimated total cost of 5.6 million, will combine tourist accommodation with community amenities, enabling visitors to stay overnight while providing spaces for local residents.

Accessible via a two-and-a-half-hour ferry and without any roads, Canna hopes to attract travelers willing to immerse themselves in island life and culture. Historically, the island housed over 300 people, but 19th-century Highland Clearances and economic challenges drastically reduced the population.

Since 1981, the National Trust for Scotland has managed the island following a donation by Gaelic scholar John Lorne Campbell and his wife, folklorist and photographer Margaret Fay Shaw. Today, Canna is home to 20 adults and two children, all of whom participate in community activities including renewable energy management.

Andrew Prendergast, development manager for the Isle of Canna Community Development Trust, explained, "Everyone has multiple roles to keep the island operational, alongside formal jobs contributing to its upkeep." The trust hopes to attract younger residents and aims to double the population within the next decade.

The new tourism development will be located at Coroghon, overlooking a black sand beach and visible ancient fort. Currently, the site is an unheated shearing shed serving as the islands sole communal space.

Plans include transforming the structure into a 20-bed tourist hotel while improving community facilities. The development will also feature a newly digitized archive chronicling the history of Canna and nearby Sanday, which is connected by a causeway.

Funding from the 2025/26 Islands Programme will allow the community to create detailed designs and secure additional investment. "Construction on islands is extremely costly, so this is a major step forward," Prendergast noted.

Known for its lush greenery, seabird populations, and quirky attractions like a post office in a garden shed, Canna draws around 10,000 visitors annually. Most do not stay overnight, as accommodation is limited to a guesthouse, basic camping, and a few holiday rentals.

With no roads, day-trippers cannot fully explore the 4.3-mile-long and 1-mile-wide island. Prendergast highlighted that the project will generate local income and employment, saying, "We benefit little from day visitors, so slow tourismallowing people to truly experience the islandis key."

The initiative is designed to preserve the islands character, avoiding mass tourism seen in places like Skye or Iona. "Its about carefully supporting population growth and community resilience," said Prendergast.

Community trust director Isebail MacKinnon added, "Operating as a community-owned venture ensures tourism revenue stays within the island, strengthening local wealth." WT Architects from South Queensferry are collaborating with the trust and National Trust for Scotland to develop sensitive designs for Coroghon.

Alongside the 250,800 Islands Programme grant, the projects design phase has also received 30,000 from the National Trust for Scotland and 25,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Author: Caleb Jennings