THE new Staffin community harbour building in Skye is proving an aromatic hit with local people and visitors, while providing much needed public facilities.
Coffee beans are being roasted at Staffin Harbour and enjoyed by customers in the premises now rented by the very first tenant.
Corran Coffee, run by Andi Dunkel and Paul Milne, has taken on a five-year lease of the building which includes much needed public toilets and showers. It is the latest addition to the harbour which has been owned by Staffin Community Trust (SCT) for less than two years.
A number of businesses now operate out of the harbour after seven work sheds were built last year and includes a sauna, fish farming, scallop diving, bike hire, Gaelic outdoor education activities, bike hire and boat tours.
All the revenue from the businesses leasing the premises directly supports the community harbour’s running costs.
It is hoped that the new WCs within the building can help reduce the impact on the environment with unwelcome examples of toileting by visitors to the area.
Corran Coffee sources beans from countries including Uganda, Rwanda and Colombia. They are roasted in small batches and the tasty coffee has proved a hit with patrons since opening with the start-up business supporting 7 jobs.
Mr Dunkel said: “We’ve received wonderful feedback from both tourists and local customers, who really appreciate having a wee café at the harbour, especially considering that just a few years ago there were no facilities at all.
“Our spot has become a welcome stop for those visiting An Corran beach, famous for its dinosaur footprints, and the toilets are now well‑used by visitors and by people enjoying the growing range of activities at the harbour, including the bike rental, sea sauna and boat trips.”
SCT will soon be installing attractive signage at the harbour illustrating all the different businesses and services across Staffin, with a map and directions.
SCT chairman Calum MacDonald said: “We wish Corran Coffee a long and happy lease at Staffin Harbour and have been hugely impressed by what they are providing and their work ethic. We’re delighted to see the new building open and it’s great to see another local business trading at the harbour supporting jobs. It in turn supports the harbour and the wider Staffin community, which is what it is all about.”
Staffin Harbour manager Lachie Gillies added: “Since the completion of the harbour building we’re now pushing forward in the pursuit of real investment that will allow us to focus on the final phase of our onshore hardstanding area. That will then lead SCT onto the new breakwater, slipway and pontoons. These phases being delivered would see a further increase in boating traffic along with more business opportunities and creation of further jobs in north Skye.”
New CCTV cameras are also now in operation at the harbour in a bid to support safety and security.
The new harbour building was supported by the Scottish Government’s Islands Programme and Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Community Regeneration Fund.
The main contractor for the harbour building was MacColl Joinery, Flodigarry; with the civils works by Eyre Plant Hire, Kensaleyre. The sub-contractors included Norman Shanks Builder, painter & decorator Allan MacLeod, Shanks Plumbing & Renewables, R Gillies Electrical and Euan MacArthur Fencing.
