Reinstating the stairs to the tower at Kisimul Castle on Barra has begun (5 November 2025), a key milestone in the programme of conservation works towards reopening the site to visitors.
The stair structure has been fabricated off-site to minimise time on the island and will be installed over one week by a team of three specialist craftspeople. The design uses seasoned timber with non-ferrous fixings and stainless components that are better suited to the exposed maritime environment at Castlebay.
Installation will comprise of scaffold access and lifting the individual stair components into place and reforming the stairs as they were in the workshop whilst carefully fitting them to the existing masonry of the tower and wall walk of the curtain wall, restoring safe vertical circulation within the tower and enabling subsequent internal works.
Jamie MacPherson, District Architect at HES, said:
“Reinstating the tower stairs is both a practical and symbolic step in bringing visitors safely back into Kisimul Castle. Off-site fabrication and careful installation help us work efficiently in a challenging coastal setting, while ensuring the long-term resilience of the structure.”
The project to reinstate the stairs to the tower has been funded by the Historic Scotland Foundation which received donated monies for Kisimul Castle, organised by the Clan Macneil Association of America.
Background and timeline of recent progress:
- High-level masonry inspections and enabling works have addressed issues associated with historic concrete interventions and the effects of salt and moisture in this sea-girt site.
- In June to August 2025, HES completed Great Hall stabilisation, including a secondary supporting structure using non-ferrous materials to allow interior works to proceed safely.
- Prior to those works, historic artefacts owned by The Macneil of Barra, including six muskets (1742–43), two halberds and an armorial, were temporarily relocated, documented and condition-checked.
- In March to April 2025, pier and slipway repairs were undertaken to facilitate future visitor access.
- Whilst access to the Castle is restricted, HES has operated a Visitor Engagement Centre at Castlebay Community Hall and offered free, pre-bookable boat trips around the bay during the April to September season.
Extracted from HES website, read more here