North mill project a ‘great example’ of how to attract funding into region
£250k helped leverage a further £3.6m in national investment
Make your life easier with a MyHIE account. It’ll save you time, help you find and organise content based on your needs and interests.
Community organisations on Highland’s West Coast are supporting the safe return of visitors to the region by upgrading a range of local tourism facilities.
Fourteen community-led tourism venues stretching from Gairloch in Wester Ross to Kilchoan on the Ardnamurchan peninsula, secured over £440,000 for capital projects from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
The HIE Community-Led Tourism Infrastructure Fund is supporting the organisations to deliver a range of projects including building adaptations, improving outdoor visitor facilities, e-bike projects, and in Knoydart the development of accommodation pods to help social distancing for visiting workers and visitors.
Attractions carrying out work include: The Gale Centre, Fairy Pools, Kilchoan jetty, Glenfinnan, Knoydart, and the Isle of Skye Ferry. (See full list below). Meet some of the projects in our feature piece here.
Alastair Nicolson, HIE’s area manager for Lochaber, Skye and Wester Ross, commented: “Community organisations deliver some fantastic tourism attractions and services locally, and we’re delighted to have been able to support these capital investments. Upgrading facilities and introducing post-Covid measures will help build confidence and ensure our communities can safely welcome back both staff and visitors.”
Davie Ferguson is Chair of the West Ardnamurchan Community Development Company which secured £40,000 towards the refurbishment of the Kilchoan Jetty. He commented:
“For a remote coastal community like ours, the jetty is a key asset for marine tourism as well as having a historic role in the development of the village during the last century. The jetty had suffered storm damage over the years and was not stable or safe and so it was a key project for the West Ardnamurchan Community Development Company, especially as the region begins to welcome back visitors.
“The Development Company is very grateful for the financial support received from the Community Led Tourism Infrastructure Fund, which has allowed us to refurbish the jetty and replace the visitor moorings in the bay so we can offer a much enhanced experience to visitors either arriving by sea or using the jetty as part of their holiday for kayaking and other activities.”
The Knoydart Foundation has accessed £84,000 to help them build 3 self-contained chalets. These are being used as safe accommodation for people working on Knoydart and/or visitor accommodation according to availability. Craig Dunn, Operations Manager at the Foundation, commented: “This development helps us adapt our offering, providing flexibility and the ability to respond to the needs of visitors and locals alike.”
£84,214 |
Two pods to facilitate distancing for both visiting workers and tourists. |
|
£20,000 |
Community toilets touch free, filling station safety, prefab. |
|
£48,688 |
Toilets in Broadford and Elgol including campervan disposal. |
|
£45,000 |
Reconfiguring and adapting kitchen area of Gale centre kitchen. |
|
£22,500 |
Ticket machines, refuse/recycling facilities, picnic benches, welfare unit at new carpark. Upgrade old phone booth to use for tourist information, including sanitisation station. Signage to direct and inform tourists. |
|
£9,600 |
Covid friendly building at ferry. |
|
£25,000 |
10 E-bikes, signage, Covid friendly community buildings. |
|
£14,523 |
Community owned toilets, retro fit doors to hands free, fixed hand sanitiser, signage and contactless payment facility for toilets, showers and laundry. |
|
£36,430 |
Electro static sanitising machine for public buildings, covid friendly café, outdoor facilties/seating, car parking, 4 e-bikes for hire. EV Charging. |
|
£20,000 |
Fairly pools picnic furniture, Walkways/paths within FP carpark. |
|
£25,000 |
10 E-bikes and related infrastructure. |
|
£8,982 |
Outdoor event space to counter covid restrictions. |
|
Torridon District Community Association |
£42,500 |
Campervan waste disposal, EV point, outdoor seating for café/shop, parking, visitor information including QR codes. |
£40,000 |
Visitors' moorings and jetty upgrade to facilitate COVID safe marine tourism. |
£250k helped leverage a further £3.6m in national investment
Partnership supports childcare career development in Skye
Event in Portree on Saturday 27 April to encourage more people into the profession
A programme of remedial works to bring Scotland’s only funicular railway back into service at Cairngorm Mountain is entering a new phase during week beginning Monday 15 April.
HIE funding will support the element of the project that focuses specifically on reducing carbon emissions and energy costs.
The Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands exhibition has been created by communities across the region as part of the Spirit of the Highlands and Islands Project.
Community trust to convert steading to create new distillery
The owners have secured up to £175,900 investment from HIE towards the works, which will help boost annual turnover and support local jobs.
Wednesday 6 March event will help local businesses identify and make the most of new opportunities from the growing cruise ship tourism market.
A community project is under way in Knoydart to improve cycling facilities for visitors and residents.