A remote, fragile community in the Western Isles is set to benefit from a substantial investment in the tourism sector with work soon to begin on the major restoration of a local hotel, creating vital jobs in the remote South Harris area.

The total refurbishment of the Rodel Hotel, situated in the southeast corner of Harris, will create new employment in an Iomairt aig an Oir (Initiative at the Edge) area.

Owners of the rundown hotel, Donald and John MacDonald, plan to renovate and extend the B-listed building, which for the last 15 years has only been operating as a public bar.

Built around 1740, the Rodel Hotel is in a striking location overlooking the harbour, and is surrounded by some of the most spectacular scenery in the Western Isles. The area has a growing tourism market and is particularly popular with hill walkers and fishermen.

Plans for the hotel include 5 en-suite bedrooms, a reception area, a lounge bar, public bar, small function suite and a restaurant specialising in island and Scottish produce. The project will create up to 9 full-time jobs in the community, where limited employment opportunities have in recent years contributed to a decline in the local population. The departure of young people from the area in order to find work, coupled with the need for development of social facilities and economic progress, led to the Bays of Harris area being included in the Government's Iomairt aig an Oir initiative.

This corner of Harris is also steeped in history. Originally owned by the MacLeods of Harris, the 2200 acre Rodel Estate then passed to Clan Ranald and a magnificent stained glass window in the hotel, depicting Jessie of Clan Ranald, is set to be the centre-piece of one of the refurbished bedrooms. The Countess of Dunmore, who was instrumental in promoting Harris Tweed, also owned the estate for a time, as did Lord Leverhulme. It then passed to two local businessmen before being bought by Donald and John MacDonald's grandfather in 1934.

Donald MacDonald said: "The renovation of the Rodel Hotel is finally becoming a reality and we anticipate that we will be opening the doors and welcoming guests in the season 2001".

The restoration of the Rodel Hotel is being supported by an investment package from Western Isles Enterprise (WIE), part of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) network. WIE has approved a considerable package to help towards the total cost of the project, details of which will be available once the development proceeds.

WIE Chief Executive Donnie Macaulay said: "The tourism sector in the Western Isles provides a major contribution to the local economy through direct employment and spending on local services and products. It is essential that accommodation and other tourism services provide the consistently high quality required by visitors. The proposed development of the Rodel Hotel will create a high quality attraction, and will, more importantly, create additional employment opportunities in South Harris."