Archived Sustainable Tourism Newsletters

Positive Impact - Issue 2 - Autumn 1996

Studies spotlight economic impacts of walking

Two reports produced in 1996 have emphasised the importance of outdoor activities to local economies throughout Scotland.

The first report, which was produced for Highlands and Islands Enterprise, looked at the economic impacts of hillwalking, mountaineering and associated activities in the HIE area. The study found that over 500,000 mountaineers visited the area in 1995 and that the expenditure related to their activities amounted to almost £149m. This level of expenditure generates £34m of income annually and secures 3,950 jobs in the HIE area - almost 3% of the area's totals in each case.

The report suggests that the findings should help to shape HIE's economic development recommendations, in particular in the remote areas popular with walkers and climbers.

Meanwhile, a second study which was produced for Scottish Natural Heritage focused on the economic impacts of the West Highland Way. It found that 50,000 people, 25% of them from overseas, use this route each year putting £3.5m into the economy and supporting up to 120 full-time equivalent jobs.

Crossings Festival brings CalMac commendation

The Crossings / Cuirm Cuain Festival which brought a range of entertainments to the ferries of Caledonian MacBrayne in 1995 has been commended in the 1996 ABSA Scottish Awards.

The awards aim to encourage imaginative and effective business sponsorship of the arts, and the judges praised CalMac for their support for a range of onboard performances including traditional music, storytelling and environmental talks.

The Festival itself was repeated in 1996 with a total of over 160 performances on eight scheduled ferry routes during July and August. The programme was again co-ordinated by Hi-Arts, an independent arts development company funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Scottish Arts Council.

Step by step guide for local walks

A new book published by the Scottish Tourist Board sets out the standard for anyone considering writing or producing a local walks leaflet or guide.

Entitled 'Step by Step', the book has been written by Roger Smith who has produced many of his own local guides and passes on his experiences in an easy to read, informative style.

The book, which costs £10.00, is available from the Scottish Tourist Board, Thistle House, Beechwood Park North, Inverness, IV2 3ED.

Access concordat widely welcomed

The recently agreed Concordat on Access to Scotland's hills and mountains has been widely welcomed throughout Scotland by both landowners and recreational users.

The concordat sets out a number of principles for recreational use and land management which are designed to ensure that people can continue to enjoy Scotland's hills and mountains in a way which shows consideration for the interests of others.

The Access Forum, which established the principles contained in the concordat, brings together representative bodies for landowners and managers, recreation bodies and public agencies with a role in facilitating enjoyment of Scotland's outdoors.

The signatories came together having recognised that there is an urgent need for co-operation between the different users of hill land. More people are visiting the hills each year, and recreation is now a major use of the Scottish hills alongside the traditional activities of hill farming, forestry, field sports and deer management.

The organisations represented on the Access Forum will work to promote the adoption of the concordat's principles and to keep under review the framework for the provision and management of access to Scotland's hills.

(Copies of the Access Forum's Concordat on Access are available from Scottish Natural Heritage, Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW.)

Activity tourism focus of good advice

A new publication from the Scottish Activity Holiday Steering Group sets out a broad range of ideas and initiatives, whereby access to Scotland's countryside for outdoor activities may be enhanced, managed and promoted.

The document - 'towards an accessible countryside for activity tourism' - has been prepared so as to ensure that all aspects relating to the development of activity tourism are recognised by Scotland's local authorities, area tourist boards, local enterprise companies and other bodies with interests in the provision and management of countryside access.

The Scottish Activity Holiday Steering Group was established in 1994 and consists of representatives of a number of public organisations and private companies. The Steering Group hopes that rather than being an end in itself, its latest 'advice note' will be used by others to assist in the formulation of policies and programmes for access for activity tourism.

(Copies of 'towards an accessible countryside for activity tourism' are available from Scottish Enterprise, 120 Bothwell Street, Glasgow, G2 7JP.)

Footpath projects march onwards

Established in January 1996, the Ross and Cromarty Footpath Trust has already embarked on a number of ambitious projects.

On the west coast, a helicopter is being used to transport gravel for use in the construction of a footpath to a remote Youth Hostel north-west of Diabeg, whilst an old Right of Way near Poolewe is being repaired by hand using stone and boulders on site. Further east, work has commenced on the main route up Ben Wyvis where a badly eroded peaty path is being replaced with a stonebuilt path and drains.

The Trust, which is supported by Highland Council, Scottish Natural Heritage and Ross and Cromarty Enterprise, has also began a survey of lowland footpaths. The paths involved have been suggested by community councils and other local agencies and the survey should establish a programme for the repair and improvement of these paths in future years.

Meanwhile the Skye and Lochalsh Footpath Initiative, which is supported by Highland Council, Scottish Natural Heritage and Skye and Lochalsh Enterprise, has secured European Objective One funding for its 1996 programme. Some of the funds are also being used to employ a Footpath Officer from June 1996.

In three years the Initiative has completed work on numerous popular paths including Corie Riabhach and Corie Lagan in the Cullins and has began work on the Falls of Glomach footpath in Kintail. However the focus of the Initiative's efforts is now shifting from high level paths to low level community paths.

With a lot of survey work already completed, the new Footpath Officer will be responsible for getting the low level programme up and running, as well as for securing funding from other sources, and for making plans for long term maintenance.