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'Park, stride and ride' Black Isle dolphin hotspot bid could boost visitor spend


By Hector MacKenzie

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Dolphins are a magnet for visitors to Chanonry Point. Picture: Peter Evans.
Dolphins are a magnet for visitors to Chanonry Point. Picture: Peter Evans.

DOLPHIN watchers flocking to a Black Isle beauty spot to catch sight of the playful cetaceans will be given extra incentive to 'park, stride and ride' later this year.

Bottleneck-prone Chanonry Point has been a flashpoint for peak-season parking issues in years gone by, promoting the introduction of parking charges in a bid to ease the problem.

Now, it has been confirmed that a free shuttle bus linking Chanonry Point with Fortrose and Rosemarkie will run in July and August this year in the wake of a successful bid by the local community council.

It follows a pilot project for a paid-for shuttle bus last year which did not prove commerciallyu viable.

Fortrose and Rosemarkie Community Council member Sarah Atkin said: "Finding solutions to traffic congestion issues at Chanonry Point has become a personal priority for me as a community councillor.

"Better information, promoting alternatives to the car and the introduction of parking charges

began to make a difference last season despite the commercial shuttle bus proving unviable.

"So, after much lobbying, we are delighted Highland Council has agreed to our idea of

funding a free service for the peak season, paid for from income generated by the parking

charges.

Sarah Atkin: Hopes to encourage visitors to stay and spend money in the villages once they’ve seen the dolphins.
Sarah Atkin: Hopes to encourage visitors to stay and spend money in the villages once they’ve seen the dolphins.

"Aside from supporting the aim of reducing congestion, our hope is that a ‘park,

stride and ride’ option will also encourage visitors to stay and spend money in our villages

once they’ve seen the dolphins."

The service will be operated by D & E coaches for July/August only from 11.30am until 4pm daily, running every 30 minutes.

It will run on a loop from Marine Terrace, Rosemarkie taking in Chanonry Point, Ness Road, Station Square/High Street in Fortrose and Marine Terrace in Rosemarkie.

A Chanonry Point information leaflet is expected to be available in June.


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