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Scotsman
17-07-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Scottish castle's £39m transformation into ‘world class' visitor attraction delayed
The castle is set to open as a visitor attraction. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A Scottish castle, which was set to reopen in the summer, is now facing a delay. The opening of a £39 million transformation of Inverness Castle to create a 'world class' visitor attraction has been pushed back from the planned reopening this summer - with completion now expected later this year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Leading figures guiding the ambitious redevelopment put the delay down to labour shortages on the contract as well as issues with materials. The Inverness Castle Experience, which involves Highland Council and Highlife Highland, is set to transform the castle from its past uses as a prison and courtroom to a visitor attraction. A virtual guide in the form of a dog named Cuillin will lead younger guests through the experience. A bistro and bar will also be part of the site. The reasons for delays are due to labour shortages and issues with materials. | PA The cost of the work is being covered by £34.5m in funding, including £30m from the Inverness and Highland City Region Deal, external , and £5.5m in borrowing. The borrowing is to be repaid from the castle's revenue. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Make sure you keep up to date with Heritage and History news from across Scotland by signing up to our free newsletter here. Labour shortages and issues with materials Speaking to the Inverness Courier, Jason Kelman, the principal project manager of the Inverness Castle Experience, said: 'We hope to have the buildings completed by mid-August and the landscaping of the exterior completed by mid-September. 'Two issues have held us back - labour shortages on the contract, partly through our focus on favouring local sub-contractors at a time when construction projects in the Highlands are booming and local sub-contractors spreading themselves thin. 'Secondly, there have been issues with materials, with the stonework all natural stone. At times, what's been quarried has hit seams where the quality is not quite what we expect and therefore a lot of stone has had to be rejected. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Inverness Castle is facing a slight delay. | Universal Images Group via Getty 'But for projects of this nature and scale, on a grade A-listed structure, it is always going to be complicated and challenging and there are many examples where budgets and timescales have been far over-run. 'I've got 35 years of experience in the construction industry and I think we've done pretty well on this project. 'To be where we are, hopefully just a matter of weeks late, I'm really pleased with the progress and the great quality of work that we have seen put in place.' Inverness Castle's history The sandstone Inverness Castle was built in 1830s and 40s to plans drawn by architect William Burn. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad However, a castle had occupied the site from possibly as far back as the 11th Century. Over the centuries, the site fell under the control of the forces of Edward I, Robert the Bruce and James I, II and IV. Inverness Castle pictured in 1936. |In 1562, Mary, Queen of Scots, was denied entry to the castle by George Gordon, Earl of Huntly. After a three-day siege by her supporters, the keeper Alexander Gordon was captured and hanged. Bonnie Prince Charlie's forces blew the castle up in 1746 to prevent it from falling into the hands of government troops. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
BBC News
16-07-2025
- BBC News
Delay to opening Inverness Castle as £30m visitor attraction
The opening of Inverness Castle as a new £30m tourist attraction has been delayed until later this to redevelop the former sheriff court and prison started in 2022 and was expected to be completed this Inverness Castle Experience, which involves Highland Council and Highlife Highland, said it was a complex and specilised said the main construction phase was ongoing but nearing completion. Councillor Ian Brown, who is co-chairman of the Inverness Castle delivery group, said it was a landmark project for the said: "This is a complex project - it involves a unique blend of historic architecture, modern building techniques and innovative exhibits. "The teamwork between contractors, designers and fit-out specialists has been commendable, especially considering the challenges with workforce availability."Mr Brown added: "With construction drawing to a close, we are moving into the final phase with energy and clear focus." What does the castle look like just now? Once open, visitors will be able to take an interactive journey through the castle and learn about the history and legends of the people will be offered the chance to follow a virtual guide - a dog called castle will also have a bar and this year, an information day was held on jobs being created at the castle. The Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service moved out of the castle in redevelopment has received funding from the £315m Inverness and Highland City Region February, public agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) put an extra £863,000 towards the cost of the building's additional funding brought HIE's total investment in the project to £2.86m. The sandstone Inverness Castle was built in 1830s and 40s to plans drawn by architect William was constructed on Castle Hill, which overlooks the city and the River Ness. The property's North Block served as a prison. But a castle had occupied the site from possibly as far back as the 11th the centuries, the fortification fell under the control of the forces of Edward I, Robert the Bruce and James I, II and 1562, it was attacked and damaged by soldiers loyal to Mary, Queen of Scots, before it was almost destroyed by Royalist troops in the Prince Charlie's forces blew the castle up in 1746 to prevent it from falling into the hands of government was said that a French sergeant, who had brought his poodle with him to Scotland, set off the soldier was caught in the blast, and his body was blown across to the opposite side of the River Ness. His dog survived.
