The organisation NorthWest2045 says: "The North West Highlands of Scotland are spectacularly beautiful, but the communities are threatened by fundamental challenges of extreme population sparsity and chronic depopulation. Houses are unaffordable to most local people; school rolls are falling and jobs are scarce." Here is their January 2026 update.
...and their latest update, March 2026
...and their latest update, March 2026
Cape Wrath Training Centre Firing
The MoD conducts live firing on Cape Wrath, at which time much of the area is closed.
Dates are announced on the official government site:
Scotland Firing Times
The MoD conducts live firing on Cape Wrath, at which time much of the area is closed.
Dates are announced on the official government site:
Scotland Firing Times
Durness Village Hall community consultation – feedback from the committee
Thank you to everyone who took part in our Durness Village Hall community consultation earlier this year. Your responses have already been used to endorse funding applications, so we’re very grateful for the time you took to let us know your thoughts. We simply cannot run the hall without your continued support and input.
All responses to the consultation were anonymised so we are unable to provide individual feedback. The committee have reviewed all the comments, suggestions and questions submitted and we have prepared the following in response to the general themes that emerged.
If you have a particular query that hasn’t been answered here, do please get in touch with us.
Read the feedback from the committee here.
Thank you to everyone who took part in our Durness Village Hall community consultation earlier this year. Your responses have already been used to endorse funding applications, so we’re very grateful for the time you took to let us know your thoughts. We simply cannot run the hall without your continued support and input.
All responses to the consultation were anonymised so we are unable to provide individual feedback. The committee have reviewed all the comments, suggestions and questions submitted and we have prepared the following in response to the general themes that emerged.
If you have a particular query that hasn’t been answered here, do please get in touch with us.
Read the feedback from the committee here.
Can you help to solve a local mystery?
We are looking for a missing historic artefact, the plaque of HMS Hood.
In 2019, Wildland completed the refurbishment of the historic Loch Eriboll Church. A service was held in the church, late that year, post the refurbishment, at which was mentioned the importance of an historic artefact known to be held in the building – a plaque in memory of the 1415 sailors who had lost their lives in the World War II sinking of Britain’s largest 20th century warship, HMS Hood. Hood was the most famous warship of her time, and her sinking brought with it the largest loss of life in the sinking of any single RN warship, Hood’s sinking was a hammer blow to national morale at the time and there is a local connection: Hood, like other RN warships before and since, had visited Loch Eriboll, and her name is still visible, in painted stones, up the hillside on the loch’s western shore. In recent years the stones' white paint has been renewed, at various times, by Durness Primary School pupils and by sailors from HMS Sutherland.
The plaque had been made, on behalf of the HMS Hood Association, by surviving former shipmates of those lost sailors. It is made of wood, bears the Hood’ crest, has an inscription on a brass plate in the middle, and is decorated by intricate ropework, highly-skilled craftmanship carried out by the sailors themselves. It looks like this:
A recent inspection of the church has revealed that the plaque is missing – almost certainly through error or misunderstanding. It is important that this tribute to Hood’s lost sailors be replaced in the church, where it belongs.
Have you seen this plaque recently? Do you know its whereabouts? If so, please let us know by emailing lana@wildland.scot or calling 07957629703
We are looking for a missing historic artefact, the plaque of HMS Hood.
In 2019, Wildland completed the refurbishment of the historic Loch Eriboll Church. A service was held in the church, late that year, post the refurbishment, at which was mentioned the importance of an historic artefact known to be held in the building – a plaque in memory of the 1415 sailors who had lost their lives in the World War II sinking of Britain’s largest 20th century warship, HMS Hood. Hood was the most famous warship of her time, and her sinking brought with it the largest loss of life in the sinking of any single RN warship, Hood’s sinking was a hammer blow to national morale at the time and there is a local connection: Hood, like other RN warships before and since, had visited Loch Eriboll, and her name is still visible, in painted stones, up the hillside on the loch’s western shore. In recent years the stones' white paint has been renewed, at various times, by Durness Primary School pupils and by sailors from HMS Sutherland.
The plaque had been made, on behalf of the HMS Hood Association, by surviving former shipmates of those lost sailors. It is made of wood, bears the Hood’ crest, has an inscription on a brass plate in the middle, and is decorated by intricate ropework, highly-skilled craftmanship carried out by the sailors themselves. It looks like this:
A recent inspection of the church has revealed that the plaque is missing – almost certainly through error or misunderstanding. It is important that this tribute to Hood’s lost sailors be replaced in the church, where it belongs.
Have you seen this plaque recently? Do you know its whereabouts? If so, please let us know by emailing lana@wildland.scot or calling 07957629703
HMS Hood 17 March 1924
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The stones' white paint has been renewed, at various times, by Durness Primary School pupils and by sailors from HMS Sutherland.
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Children's Play Park
The Play Park is now open! Come along and try it out (if you're the right age...)
The Durness Community Group are delighted to share that we have been successful in our application for £56,899.01 to the Highland Council’s Community Regeneration Fund for improving and replacing the play park on School Road, Durness. This brings us to our target total of £114,355.60. It is hoped that new equipment will be in place this summer.
Durness Community Group especially wishes to thank Yvonne MacRae for her hard work on this.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us with donations! There are too many people to thank individually but special thanks to:
- Our local councillors for supporting our application (Hugh Morrison and Marianne Hutchison)
- The Westminster Foundation
- Scottish Sea Farms Ltd
- Loch Duart Salmon
- The Durness Bus (Neil Fuller and Sarah Fuller)
- Sango Sands Oasis (James Keith, Carol Keith, Tia Keith)
- K MacRae and Sons Ltd
- Mudness Ceramics
- Durness Active Health
- Emma Williamson and family
- Iain and Tricia Morrison in memory of Charlie
And many many more
The Play Park is now open! Come along and try it out (if you're the right age...)
The Durness Community Group are delighted to share that we have been successful in our application for £56,899.01 to the Highland Council’s Community Regeneration Fund for improving and replacing the play park on School Road, Durness. This brings us to our target total of £114,355.60. It is hoped that new equipment will be in place this summer.
Durness Community Group especially wishes to thank Yvonne MacRae for her hard work on this.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us with donations! There are too many people to thank individually but special thanks to:
- Our local councillors for supporting our application (Hugh Morrison and Marianne Hutchison)
- The Westminster Foundation
- Scottish Sea Farms Ltd
- Loch Duart Salmon
- The Durness Bus (Neil Fuller and Sarah Fuller)
- Sango Sands Oasis (James Keith, Carol Keith, Tia Keith)
- K MacRae and Sons Ltd
- Mudness Ceramics
- Durness Active Health
- Emma Williamson and family
- Iain and Tricia Morrison in memory of Charlie
And many many more
Help with the Cost of Living
Highland Council's Welfare Support team can:
Highland Council's Welfare Support team can:
- Advise you about all the benefits and other entitlements that are available
- Undertake benefit checks to ensure you are not missing out on any benefits
- Provide assistance to help you complete the relevant forms
- Help you with advice and support if your application for benefit is turned down or you do not receive the amount you were expecting
Near Me - NHS Highland Near Me video appointments
Near Me, also known as Attend Anywhere, is a safe and secure NHS video calling platform that helps us, the NHS, to offer video call access to our services from wherever you are, without travelling - bringing care closer to you.
Video consultations offer the chance to reduce your travel time, or time away from home, work or school to attend your appointment. Near Me may also make it easier for you to have a member of your family or carer with you, who may not have been able to travel to your appointment with you.
To use Near Me you will need a reliable internet connection; broadband or 3G/4G, and a suitable device for making video calls such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop or computer with webcam and speaker.
This poster advertises the service. (large download) Please send any queries to Anita Wilson at a.wilson17b at btinternet.com
Or for more information see: www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/NHSNearMe
Near Me, also known as Attend Anywhere, is a safe and secure NHS video calling platform that helps us, the NHS, to offer video call access to our services from wherever you are, without travelling - bringing care closer to you.
Video consultations offer the chance to reduce your travel time, or time away from home, work or school to attend your appointment. Near Me may also make it easier for you to have a member of your family or carer with you, who may not have been able to travel to your appointment with you.
To use Near Me you will need a reliable internet connection; broadband or 3G/4G, and a suitable device for making video calls such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop or computer with webcam and speaker.
This poster advertises the service. (large download) Please send any queries to Anita Wilson at a.wilson17b at btinternet.com
Or for more information see: www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/NHSNearMe
Physiotherapy
First Contact Physiotherapists (FCPs) who assess, diagnose and guide the management of patients with musculoskeletal conditions are taking up posts in GP surgeries across the country. These Physiotherapists in NHS Highland are advanced practitioners who have or are working towards MSK injection skills and non-medical prescribing. They cover all the GP surgeries for people to access, without the need to see their GP first. In the smaller practice's patients will often still see the GP first, as their allocation is small, but GP feedback has shown when a patient has multiple presentations being able to say “the FCP will deal with your shoulder/knee/hip/back etc!” has been especially helpful. The FCP is also an expert in MSK presentations and has all the latest knowledge, resources and information from their wider physio networks.
First Contact Physiotherapy has been shown to provide fast access to an expert physiotherapist for patients with common musculoskeletal problems like back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, ligament and muscle problems, aches pains and strains. After initial assessment, if required, the FCP can refer the patient onto secondary care services, including further rehabilitation, Orthopaedics and Radiology (x-ray). Covering the Armadale, Tongue and Durness practices Elspeth Mather is providing both the first contact assessment and can also continue with the patient's rehabilitation in her wider caseload.
Primarily aimed to reduce GPs workload the FCP service creates closer working relationships with practice staff including advanced nurse practitioners and Pharmacists. FCPs also input their clinical care record directly into the same place as the GPs - this approach is enjoying enhanced patient care by joining up the patient records and is providing a collaborative overall management of the persons MSK condition.
First Contact Physiotherapists (FCPs) who assess, diagnose and guide the management of patients with musculoskeletal conditions are taking up posts in GP surgeries across the country. These Physiotherapists in NHS Highland are advanced practitioners who have or are working towards MSK injection skills and non-medical prescribing. They cover all the GP surgeries for people to access, without the need to see their GP first. In the smaller practice's patients will often still see the GP first, as their allocation is small, but GP feedback has shown when a patient has multiple presentations being able to say “the FCP will deal with your shoulder/knee/hip/back etc!” has been especially helpful. The FCP is also an expert in MSK presentations and has all the latest knowledge, resources and information from their wider physio networks.
First Contact Physiotherapy has been shown to provide fast access to an expert physiotherapist for patients with common musculoskeletal problems like back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, ligament and muscle problems, aches pains and strains. After initial assessment, if required, the FCP can refer the patient onto secondary care services, including further rehabilitation, Orthopaedics and Radiology (x-ray). Covering the Armadale, Tongue and Durness practices Elspeth Mather is providing both the first contact assessment and can also continue with the patient's rehabilitation in her wider caseload.
Primarily aimed to reduce GPs workload the FCP service creates closer working relationships with practice staff including advanced nurse practitioners and Pharmacists. FCPs also input their clinical care record directly into the same place as the GPs - this approach is enjoying enhanced patient care by joining up the patient records and is providing a collaborative overall management of the persons MSK condition.