Thatched cottage upgrade plans get the all clear

The last remaining thatched cottage of its kind in south-west Scotland has been given approval to upgrade its visitor offering to include running water and a toilet.

The A-listed Cruck Cottage at Torthorwald in Dumfries and Galloway - which is operated as a museum - has been opening more regularly in recent years after being badly damaged by fire in 2018.

However, the Cruck Cottage Heritage (CCH) that runs the site said it needed to make improvements in order to cope with the increase in its profile.

Now Dumfries and Galloway Council has approved plans for a small building in the museum grounds which would contain a toilet, utility room and storage area.

The cottage gets its name from the oak "crucks", or trunks, which support the roof and are laid with heather turf and thatched with rye straw.

It is the only remaining building of its kind in the area and dates back to the mid-1700s.

It was badly damaged by a fire eight years ago but CCH - the group of volunteers who manage it - are now able to stage more regular daytime and evening events.

However, up until this point they have been operating with no toilets or running water - issues which the planning approval will allow them to address.