Outward bound Scotland to expand water sports provision

An outdoor activity centre, based at Loch Eil near Fort William, has begun work on improving the Loch Eil community waterfront facility to enable thousands of young people to fulfil their potential through challenging outdoor pursuits.

The centre, which is part of The Outward Bound Trust established in 1941, has a prime position on the shores of the loch and in 2001 the land at the foreshore was donated to Outward Bound by Cameron of Loch Eil - allowing them to expand and increase access to water-based sporting activities.

The new slipway, pontoons and boatshed will enable the organisation to formulate their vision for Loch Eil, which is to develop a thriving community water-based centre which will give opportunities for sailing, canoeing and kayaking activities. The new facility will be available for use by community groups and will become the primary point of access for these groups to Loch Eil.

The project will cost approximately £645,000, towards which Outward Bound Scotland has raised £360,000. The remaining £285,000 includes £62,000 from Lochaber Enterprise and £223,000 from the European Union.

Chief executive of Lochaber Enterprise, Charlotte Wright said: "When completed, this fantastic new waterfront will improve links with the local community, increase all year round participation in sailing and canoeing and enhance Lochaber's reputation as the Outdoor Capital of the UK."

Last year, the centre saw 5,400 people participate in a wide range of personal development courses including hill walking, kayaking and rock-climbing. Their aim is to significantly increase the number of young people who experience Outward Bound in the next five years, and it is hoped that this project will increase the number of people taking part in water-based activities from 6,000 to 7,200 per year.

Tony Shepherd, general manager at Outward Bound Scotland said: "This will be a tremendous enhancement to our facilities and the funding, from Lochaber Enterprise, the European Union via the Highlands and Islands Partnership Programme and Sport Scotland will mean that thousands of young people will have the opportunity to benefit from an Outward Bound course with the best facilities available.

"I am also very excited about the prospect of our waterfront becoming a community focus for young people throughout Lochaber, introducing them to kayaking, canoeing and sailing, and providing better support for groups such as the disabled Challenger Sailing group. This development is a much needed boost enabling Outward Bound Scotland to really support the other developments within the Outdoor Capital of the UK. Work is already well underway and we hope to have it completed by September this year."