South West Mull & Iona Development is inviting organisations to help shape the next chapter of Tiroran Community Forest through an exciting new long-term partnership.
We are seeking a Strategic Development Partner to work with us on the creation of a distinctive, nature-based, off-grid accommodation offer within the forest. The initial ambition is for around five to eight high-quality cabins, but this is deliberately much bigger than a traditional holiday accommodation project. We are looking for a partner who shares our ambition for Tiroran and wants to help us create lasting environmental, social and economic value.
Tiroran Community Forest covers approximately 790 hectares on the Ardmeanach Peninsula, bringing together woodland, moorland, burns, lochs and dramatic coastal scenery. Our long-term vision is to transform it into a thriving community asset where nature recovery, recreation, education, enterprise and community wellbeing can work together.
The proposed accommodation is intended to help generate sustainable income that can be reinvested into the forest — supporting habitat restoration, woodland management, visitor infrastructure and new opportunities for the local community.
We want to work with a partner who can bring investment, design thinking, development expertise and operational experience, while creating something that sits lightly within this remarkable landscape. Our preference is for an off-grid or ultra-low-impact approach, incorporating ideas such as renewable energy, sustainable water management, low-impact wastewater treatment, locally sourced timber and minimal ground disturbance.
Local benefit is also at the heart of the opportunity. We are particularly interested in approaches that create employment and training, use local contractors and suppliers, work with existing Mull businesses and help retain more economic value within the island.
The accommodation will sit alongside the emerging vision for Tiroran, which includes improved walking routes, visitor facilities, outdoor learning, wildlife watching, biodiversity enhancement and stronger connections with Burg and the wider Ross of Mull.
Ultimately, we are looking for a partner who wants to grow alongside Tiroran Community Forest for many years to come, helping us demonstrate how community ownership, environmental stewardship and commercial innovation can work hand in hand.
You can read the full Invitation to Participate in Competitive Dialogue – Strategic Development Partner: Off-Grid Nature-Based Accommodation here.
Deadline for submissions: 28 August at 5pm
Submissions should be no longer than 10 pages and sent to srobinsonfrood@swmid.co.uk.
We would also encourage people to share the opportunity with organisations, investors and operators who may be interested in helping us shape the future of Tiroran Community Forest.
