Loch Ness tourism hub gets funding
A COMMUNITY-LED project to create a visitor information and green transport hub near Loch Ness has taken a big step forward with an £80,000 grant towards the development costs.
Glen Urquhart Rural Community Association (Gurca) plans to transform the empty former tourist information office in Drumnadrochit into a new venture.
The grant for the Loch Ness Hub is from Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) Renewables’ Highland Sustainable Development Fund.
Gurca, which suggested a community buyout of the building two years ago, was also awarded a grant £88,225 from the Scottish Land Fund earlier this year.
Chairwoman Susan Clark said since the start of the coronavirus crisis, all efforts had gone into community resilience efforts including a helpline for local residents needing assistance.
“One of the impacts of coronavirus is that the bottom has dropped out of the tourism market but we are absolutely committed when we do get out of this lockdown to rebuild tourism,” she said. “We are now finding out just how fragile the economy is because we are so dependent on tourism.
“It is our intention to progress this later in the year, working with other stakeholders to make it happen.”
It also plans to launch a community share offer later in the year to help fund the venture.
One idea is to develop an integrated transport system with a shuttle bus service between the Clansman Hotel and Urquhart Castle with stopping places including Drumnadrochit which would relieve pressure on the busy A82 and bring people into the village as well as serving locals. There are also plans for e-bike hire and car sharing.
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