Best Practice Case StudiesGlenlivet Estate A landscape to explore... |
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"One of the greatest assets for tourism is the rich natural and cultural heritage…. " Andy Wells, Head Ranger, Glenlivet Estate
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In October 1996 the Crown Estate's Glenlivet Estate won a 'Nature's Prize' award for their activities in promoting enjoyment of the natural heritage within a large Highland estate. Glenlivet also gained worldwide recognition as one of two UK runners up in the British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Awards in 1999. The Estate was also awarded a Gold award under the Green Tourism Business Scheme in 2005.
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Traditional land uses still underpin the economy of the area, but over the last decade the estate has aimed to broaden the economic base by encouraging new forms of business development, particularly those relating to tourism.
Farm tenants have been given support to diversify, and several new enterprises have been developed on land or within buildings made available for lease. A major part of the project has involved developing an extensive 100 mile network of way-marked walking and cycling trails around the woods and farmland of the lower ground, connecting with the existing Tomintoul Spur of the Speyside Way long distance path and other long distance hill tracks and community paths. As a consequence the Estate has one of the most integrated waymarked trail networks in the whole of Scotland. |
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| Some of the footpath improvement works have been aimed specifically at local communities and all abilities access. For example, a new footbridge was built across the River Livet to link the Glenlivet Primary School with a nearby castle and community surgery, and a new woodland adventure playground has been constructed in Tomintoul. |
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| The undertaking of visitor and community surveys helps with future management and development of services and facilities in Glenlivet. The surveys are designed to collect details about visitor profiles, motivations, behaviour, likes and dislikes and community aspirations. The surveys are used as part of other ongoing evaluation projects, including the development of sustainability indicators to assess the effects of development projects that the Crown Estate has invested in on the Estate. |
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Regeneration and management of the birch woodland on
the estate and a long term programme of restructuring of the commencial
woodlands has helped protect and enhance its wildlife value and generate significant employment opportunities for local people.
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The estate has also developed an educational service, and provides an information centre and a ranger service. Between them these have encouraged more visitors, extended the tourist season by about five weeks a year, and increased turnover in tourist-related enterprises and other local businesses.
The estate encourages recreational events that can use the network of trails and bring in more people, particularly outwith the main tourist season. With the downhill ski centre at the Lecht nearby, the area can now offer year-round facilities. |
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The Crown Estate has demonstrated that a positive approach towards access, combined with promoting good environmental practice, has benefits for the environment, for local people, and for the local economy. They hope that this will help to halt the population decline and provide the basis for continued prosperity and development.
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For further information about Glenlivet Estate please contact: Andrew Wells Head Ranger Tel:01807 580283 Photos courtesy Crown Estate and Tourism & Environment Forum Case study updated on 30 March 2005 |
Contact Us
Sustainable Tourism Unit, VisitScotland,
Thistle House,
Beechwood Park North,
Inverness, IV2 3ED.
enquiries@greentourism.org.uk