The Sir Hector MacDonald Memorial Tower in Dingwall has reopened to the public after restoration work on the B-listed structure on Mitchell Hill.
A formal opening ceremony took place July 2 during Dingwall Gala Week, marking the return of public access to the historic monument after structural upgrades.
The Highland Council managed the restoration with the Dingwall Community Development Company (DCDC). Funding included a £175,000 investment from the Community Regeneration Fund, part of the Scottish Government’s Place Based Investment Programme, along with support from The Highland Council Property Capital budget.
Compass Building and Construction Services Ltd carried out the construction work. The scope included re-decking the roof and restoring and refurbishing the tower’s masonry and steelwork that supports the internal floors. For mason contractors and restoration crews, it is a familiar mix of priorities, keeping the building envelope secure while structural repairs and masonry work move forward in a controlled sequence.
With maintenance and repair work complete, DCDC has signed an agreement to take possession of the memorial tower and manage public access. Local leaders said reopening the tower supports heritage preservation, community pride, and a new visitor draw, with supervised summer visits planned.
After the ceremony, the first visitors were welcomed back to the monument, with views over Dingwall and the surrounding countryside once again available from the top.
Read the full, original article from Scottish Construction Now here.