Pennan

 Introduction

This afternoon I am posting information on Pennan (pop 50). This is a coastal village sitting on the north coast of mainland Scotland and about 45 miles north of Aberdeen. 

Information on Pennan 

Firstly, the writer apologises for the poor quality of images in this post. This is because the said images date back about 20 years and were taken in the early years of digital photography. 

As some readers may recall Pennan is famous as the setting for the 1983 comedy film, Local Hero. The story centred on an American oil company fixer who was sent to Scotland to buy up an entire village on which to build an oil refinery. However, the man finds himself having a change of heart.

Today, the village is subject of media attention owing to a campaign (by the residents) to cancel    Pennan's 'conservation village' status. The status is bestowed on areas of 'special architectural or historical interest, the character or appearance of which is desirable to preserve or enhance.'

The residents argue that the conservation status forces them to live in a museum type environment entailing high property maintenance costs.The core line of houses is strung facing the sea beneath steep cliffs. The latter are a source of occasional landslips and damp in the properties.

Basically, the residents are of the view that the special conservation status forces additional costs on the home owners which are disproportionate and increasingly unaffordable. 

It seems the final decision on conservation status rests with Aberdeenshire Council and heritage watchdog Historic Environment Scotland.

Core line of village houses with cliffs behind. 

  Pennan's Famous Red 'Phone Box

 

More information

For more information on Scotland's tourist sites please refer to Visitors’ Guide to Scotland. This ISBN is 978-1-9161332-0-4. This is also available via Kindle.