Inveraray Community Celebrates Reopening of Historic Pier

Home » Inveraray Community Celebrates Reopening of Historic Pier Published: April 20, 2024 This Article was Written by: Daniela Jenkins - Ridge Clean Energy

Inveraray Pier on Loch Fyne, a beloved Argyllshire landmark, reopens to the delight of the local community.

After ten years of being closed to the public, the historic Inveraray Pier was finally re-opened to the public on Saturday 20th April. In perfect weather, the official ribbon-cutting ceremony drew a large crowd, which saw the Mid Argyll Pipe Band perform.

Originally built in 1762, the Inveraray Pier was an important hub for the loch community’s fishing and boating needs but had fallen into disrepair, making it unsafe and therefore being closed to the public since 2014. The local community wanted this former asset to be restored and reopened once again, with the ambition to improve access to and from the loch, reconnect neighbouring communities, and re-establish fishing, diving, promenading, boat trips and other water sports facilities on the loch.

Inspire Inveraray together with the Inveraray Community Council and the local community have pooled resources to develop a fundraising plan and apply for funding to purchase the Pier so it could go back into community ownership, and with time, be restored to safety and open to the public.

With the support of renewable energy developer Ridge Clean Energy, Inspire Inveraray and its supporters worked together to raise over £244k, enabling the community to purchase the pier and carry out essential restoration works in July 2023.

Since its reopening, the pier has hosted a number of wonderful community events, such a Picnic on the Pier and a hugely successful Farmers Market, which will now become a monthly event.

Linda Divers, Director of Inspire Inveraray and Chair of Inveraray Community Council, said:

“We are thrilled to announce that the historic Inveraray Pier is now once again open to the public. We know how much joy it will bring to our town, our residents and our visitors. The purchase and restoration of the Pier was a joint effort and today’s celebration is a testament to how much we can achieve if communities, councils and local businesses come together, listen to each other and work together for the common good.”

“Inspire Inveraray and The Inveraray Community Council would like to thank Geaspar and Kelly Byrne, previous owners of the Pier, who provided the opportunity to bring the Pier back into community ownership, and Robin Campbell Music for their contributions. We also want to thank Ridge Clean Energy for all the help in obtaining grants, giving us the confidence to apply for them and believing in us, knowing we can make the dream of an open and accessible Pier a reality.”