Visitor experience improvement at Wester Ross natural beauty spot Corrieshalloch Gorge is underway
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A WESTER Ross landmark will see its visitor facilities improved following a Scottish charity bid to enhance visitor engagement.
The National Trust for Scotland have invested in improvements to facilities at their historic site of Corrieshalloch Gorge, located 12 miles south of Ullapool.
The project is underway to improve facilities and develop a ‘gateway to nature’ at the popular visitor attraction, which is due to re-open in October after starting works in February 2022. A suspension bridge on the site was re-opened to the public in July.
The project to improve Corrieshalloch Gorge is part of the National Trust for Scotland’s 10 year strategy – Nature, Beauty & Heritage for Everyone.
Commenting on the project, Clea Warner, general manager for the National Trust for Scotland in the Highlands and Islands, said: “Corrieshalloch Gorge is much-loved by the community and visitors alike, and it is very exciting to see the work to improve the facilities progress. One of Scotland’s natural treasures, the Gorge needs to be protected now and for future generations, and we are pleased to be able to enrich and enhance the visitor experience and create a gateway to nature at this very special place.”
The £2.3 million project has secured £923,277 funding from the Natural and Cultural Heritage Fund which is led by NatureScot and funded through the European Regional Development Fund. It is part of an almost £9 million Scottish programme of projects to invest in the Highlands and Islands, to provide more, better quality opportunities for visitors to enjoy natural and cultural heritage assets.
Changes will see access has improved with a new 800m path created to allow a greater number of people to visit the gorge, plus a new welcome centre, featuring toilets, a take-away café and blue and grey waste provision for motorhomes, now nearly complete.
The existing car park has been extended and can now accommodate 22 cars, four motorhomes or mini-buses, six motorcycles, two coaches, and now also provides two electric points, two disabled and two parent and child parking bays. New guided walks will also be introduced to enhance the visitor experience further at Corrieshalloch.
A new full-time ranger position has also been created at the Gorge. Bruce MacDonald was recruited to the role in July which sees him manage on-going protection and upkeep of the site, visitor engagement, local outreach programmes, ranger tours and local career engagement. Originally hailing from the Isle of Skye, Mr MacDonald was responsible for the development of the Shinty Trail, an interactive storytelling resource and visual guide to the shinty heritage of Badenoch, in the Cairngorms National Park.
One of the eight Natural Nature Reserves in the Trust’s care, Corrieshalloch Gorge boasts a spectacular mile-long canyon through which the River Droma rushes.
