GLENCOE VISITOR CENTRE WINS GREEN TOURISM AWARD
Mike Watson MSP, Minister for Tourism, Culture &
Sport presented The National Trust for Scotland's Glencoe Visitor Centre
with a Gold Green Tourism Award - the first for the National Trust for
Scotland.
The visitor centre was designed to meet state-of-the-art
ecological standards. The project included the demolition of the old centre,
the design of the building, car park and an ecological friendly infrastructure
right down to the heating and kinds of cutlery and crockery used. Even
the majority of gifts sold in the shop are of UK origin, minimising the
environmental impact of getting them here.
With over 160,000 visitors each year the centre, which
is open all year round, tells the story of Glencoe and gives interesting
information about the landscape, people and conservation work that is
carried out there. It aims to make everyone who visits aware of the conservation
challenges and the work the National Trust for Scotland does, as well
as encouraging them to stay in the area and enjoy everything that is so
very special in this unique beauty spot. Working closely with the local
community the centre provides helpful information on places to stay and
other visitor attractions in the area.
SKYE, THE ISLAND AND LOCHALSH NOW MARKETED AS ONE PACKAGE
A tourism marketing initiative to brand the two areas of
Skye and Lochalsh as one package was launched in Skye’s main town,
Portree, by Dougie Vipond, the BBC sports and travel presenter.
"Skye, the Island and Lochalsh", which has been
designed as a trademark of identity, will benefit more than 1,600 businesses
and community groups. Any business in the area can register to use the
brand image for £25, with everything from beer to water in future
having the Skye and Lochalsh label.
The project hopes to raise awareness of the Skye and Lochalsh
area which currently generates about £100 million a year, and bring
in even more visitors. Skye and Lochalsh Enterprise (SALE), Highland Council
and the European Leader programme have all helped secure funding amounting
to £85,000. A further £40,000 is being sought from private
sector support. Caledonian MacBrayne, the ferry company, is also a significant
contributor.
LOOKING FORWARD
TO THE INVERNESS HIGHLAND GAMES
The City of Inverness Highland Games, which will take
place in the Highland Capital on Saturday July 19th, has seen an impressive
increase in popularity in recent years and is now the centre piece of
a 2 week Festival in the Capital of the Highlands.
From their revival in 1821 until the end of the 2nd World
War, the Inverness Games used to be organised by the local aristocracy.
Today the Games are organised by the Highland Council and it is estimated
that the Inverness Games brings at least £500,000 into the local
economy.
The Inverness Games Festival has seen a 10 fold increase
in attendances in the past 4 years as a result of a conscious effort to
offer locals and visitors "more than just a Highland Games"
by extending the duration of the event and surrounding the Games with
a variety of spectacular displays.
In the USA, substantial increases in attendances has been
achieved at Agricultural Shows by surrounding those events with "must
see" family entertainment. Inverness has followed that model and
such has been the success of the decision to surround the Inverness Games
with displays that the event has now outgrown its Bught Park Stadium home
and is now staged in a specially constructed arena outside in Bught Park
itself. In recent years Inverness has hosted displays by The RAF Red Arrows,
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, The Terrorslide and The Red Bull
Freestyle Supercross Display Teams.
At a time when much thought is given to marketing Scotland,
but little to marketing Highland Games, it is interesting to note that
the 2003 Inverness Games were featured on three television programmes
and four foreign radio travel programmes.
The Children's BBC's "XChange" programme broadcast
live at 5.30pm from the Children's "Have a Go" Highland Games,
to a tea time Friday Evening audience. CBBC broadcast all their Saturday
afternoon links live from Games Day. The popular American Children's Travel
programme "Awesome Adventures" programme, which is syndicated
to 220 stations across the USA and Canada, is estimated to have been seen
by 50 million viewers.
Amongst the additional attractions planned around the
2003 Highland Games will be:
- An Air Show starring the Red Arrows at Inverness
Airport (July 13th)
- The Armed Services Highland Exhibition (July 18
& 19)
- The Highland Motor Show (July 19)
- The Inverness Tattoo (July 21-26).
Perhaps the biggest success of all has been the Games
website, www.invernesshighlandgames.com
which attracted enquiries from 21 Countries and 70,000 plus hits in 2003.
Many Scots are unaware that Highland Games are actually Scotland's 2nd
most popular spectator sports in terms of spectators. The Highland Council's
Events and Promotions Officer Gerry Reynolds attributes a lot of the success
of the Website to the fact that many visitors regard Highland Games as
a "must do" part of every visit to Scotland, and most enter
"Highland Games" as key words when they search for information
about Scotland.
More information: http://www.invernesshighlandgames.com/
GLOBAL RECOGNITION FOR THE FALKIRK WHEEL
British Waterways wins 'Best of What's New' Grand Award
for The Falkirk Wheel
Each year, somewhere in New York, in the offices of Popular
Science Magazine, editors and expert advisors comb through thousands of
new products, concepts and inventions from all over the globe. Their task
is to identify 100 winners that represent examples of 'superior innovation'.
Their next challenge is to study each of the 100 winners
to find the Grand Winner in each of 10 categories. At the end of this
arduous process for 2003, it was announced that The Falkirk Wheel had
been designated Grand Award Winner in the 'Electronics' category.
The Falkirk Wheel is the world's first rotating boat lift
and conveys craft between the Union Canal and the Forth and Clyde Canal,
creating a Glasgow city to Edinburgh city waterway link across Scotland's
central belt.
Falkirk Wheel Stoppage Time
British Waterways' renowned Falkirk Wheel is currently
closed for its winter maintenance period.
The Falkirk Wheel and Visitor Centre - with exhibition
area, cafe and shop - will re-open to the public on 1st March 2003.
For more information on Scotland's Canals and The Falkirk
Wheel, please visit www.scottishcanals.co.uk
and www.thefalkirkwheel.co.uk
NEW SIX STAR HOTEL AND CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSE FOR PERTHSHIRE
The plan for a new 180-bedroom six-star hotel, a first for Scotland,
as well as 80 luxury timeshare units and 100 more homes - starting at
£500,000 - will go before Perth and Kinross planners for approval
in March. The land consisting of 620 acres joins on to, and will be managed
by, the world-famous five-star Gleneagles resort.
The company behind the £350m Gleneagles West project
is Ochil Developments, run by Majer al-Tajid, the son of one of the world’s
richest men. The billionaire al-Tajid family, from oil-rich Dubai, have
owned the Blackford Estate, on which the new tourism and leisure development
will be built, for the last 20 years.
Ian Gotts, the spokesman for the family, said the intention
was to create the most exclusive tourism and leisure development in Britain.
"The vision for Gleneagles West is for the creation
of a quality and style of destination previously unknown in Scotland,
or indeed the UK."
The plan will go before Perth and Kinross planners for
approval in March. Objectors include Rural Scotland, a countryside protection
group, which says the development will have "significant visual impact
and will forever change the character of this rural area".
WORLD CLASS ST KILDA
The Hebridean archipelago of St Kilda, already inscribed
as a World Heritage Site for its natural heritage, could become even more
exclusive as the Scottish Executive have recently applied to the United
Nations Organisation for Education, Science, Culture and Communications
(UNESCO) for the islands to be considered for their cultural heritage
and surrounding marine natural heritage.
If the joint inscription on the World Heritage List is
approved by UNESCO, St Kilda will join only 23 other sites in the World
with this double accolade.
In addition, the current World Heritage status - for scenery,
sheep and seabirds - is being extended to include the marine interests
in the immediate vicinity of St Kilda. Surveys undertaken by Scottish
Natural Heritage (SNH) in 1997 and 2000 have revealed the remnants of
a large underwater volcanic crater joining up the islands and stacks that
make up the archipelago as we know it today.
The current land boundary, enclosing 850 hectares, will
be extended to a box approximately 24,000 hectares in area, and reaching
about one kilometre beyond the archipelago’s headlands.
SNH - who have to date managed the islands as a National
Nature Reserve have co-operated with owners, the National Trust for Scotland,
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and others, to prepare the submission to UNESCO.
The St Kildans finally abandoned the islands in 1930.
It had been their dependence upon a seabird harvest that has made this
archipelago of such cultural significance. The spectacular landscape is
enhanced by a variety of dry stone structures, including the village ‘street’
and some 1,200 ‘cleitean’ that were used to store and dry the
seabird carcasses over the winter.
The islanders maintained a flock of Soay sheep that are
descended from the most primitive domestic form in Europe. St Kilda also
has its own unique forms of wren and field mouse.
There are some 730 World Heritage Sites ratified by UNESCO
in 125 different countries throughout the globe. Most have been nominated
for their cultural interest, but 144 (including St Kilda) have a natural
heritage interest. The Giant’s Causeway and the Dorset coast are
the other natural sites in Britain. Only 23 in the world have been accorded
dual status.
For further information see http://www.snh.gov.uk
SCOTTISH MUSEUMS COUNCIL (SMC) DISABILITY EQUALITY TRAINING FOR MUSEUMS
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) comes into effect in October
of next year. All museums and other public 'services' must be ready to
address the needs of a wide range of disabled visitors.
SMC is providing a course specific to museums and addressing
the issues and problems you might face in complying with the DDA. Susie
Rutherford has a wealth of experience in the areas of physical and intellectual
access (which includes undertaking access audits) and has worked as a
consultant on various museum projects, one of which (Sunderland Museum
and Winter Gardens) was showcased at a recent GEM event.
The course will give the opportunity to address access,
provide case studies of good practice and help to form an action plan
for 2004 and beyond.
Dates/venues:
Tuesday April 29 at Glasgow University
Tuesday May 27 at Perth Museum
Cost : £35 members/£50 non-members
(The course is part-funded by the SMC Learning and Access Fund)
For further information http://www.scottishmuseums.org.uk
SKIING AT THE LECHT, SCOTLAND
The Lecht has enjoyed some good skiing and boarding on
all main runs except the Buzzard with ample nursery areas. Low temperatures
on the 14 and 15 Feb were ideal for snowmaking, which was in progress
all night to improve runs.
New pricing structure:
They now have 3 price levels.
Adults: 18 and over, Juniors: Secondary School age, Children:
Primary School age. Senior Citizens are charged the Junior rate, and over
70s and under 5s get free lift passes! Student discounts (with valid ID)
New Eagle takes flight
The new Poma tow, Eagle 2, is now operational, and will
be used to relieve pressure on the Eagle tow - and of course reduce queues
for these popular runs.
The new tow runs parallel to the Eagle, and is slightly
shorter - it is hoped that this will give skiers more downhill time, and
less time just waiting.
For more information see http://www.lecht.co.uk
NORTHLINK ON TEMPORARY TIMETABLE FOR DRY DOCK PERIOD
NorthLink Ferries will operate a revised timetable
between February 17 and March 2, during which time sister ships MV Hrossey
and MV Hjaltland will each have the opportunity to dry-dock on the Tyne
for up to a week.
Over the dry dock period the Aberdeen, Kirkwall, Lerwick
route will be served by one vessel only, which will travel north one day
and south the next. As a result, calls at Hatson, Kirkwall will be reduced,
with one southbound call (on a Friday) and one northbound call (on a Sunday)
each week. Passengers holding advance pre-paid bookings on Hatston sailings
that are to be cancelled will be contacted by NorthLink and offered complimentary
travel on an alternative sailing of their choice.
Sailings of NorthLink’s freight vessel, MV Hascosay,
will increase during this period in order to ensure a nightly service
for northbound freight out of Aberdeen. Sailings on the Pentland Firth
route between Scrabster and Stromness are unaffected by the procedure.
Gareth Crichton, NorthLink’s commercial director,
said:
"The ships may only need to be in dry dock for one
or two days, but we have allowed for a week each to be on the safe side.
Passengers affected by the changes will be contacted in order that alternative
travel arrangements can be made. If anybody has any queries about Northlink’s
passenger service during the dry dock period, please contact 0845 6000
449 or log on to www.northlinkferries.co.uk.."
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