The new 20km Heritage Trail is part of a 100km Access Network of
walking routes which will for the first time link over 800 ancient
monuments from Carnasserie Castle near Kilmartin to the Crinan
Canal. Today also sees the launch of the Heart of Argyll
Tourism Alliance - a legacy of the Dalriada Project, the local
industry-led group will promote this culture and heritage rich area
to visitors from home and abroad.
The Dalriada Project's new purpose built walking trails feature
interpretation boards, leaflets and podcasts, and encompass an area
with world-class natural and cultural heritage features including
the Moine Mhor National Nature Reserve, Dunadd Fort - where the
first Kings of Scotland were crowned - ancient Atlantic oak
woodlands, the finest prehistoric rock art in Europe and an unique
linear cemetery where you can go into bronze age tombs and walk
around stone circles.
The Dalriada Project worked with landowners, The Waterways Trust
Scotland, the Forestry Commission, Kilmartin House Museum, Scottish
Natural Heritage, Historic Scotland and the public to create a path
that would allow all of these sites to be walked in a day. So
sensitive are parts of the landscape that stone slabs had to be
brought in by helicopter to create ingenious clapper bridges across
areas of internationally protected moss land.
The Heart of Argyll Tourism Alliance was formed as a consortium
cooperative in November 2010, just a year after the first Dalriada
Project workshop identified a need for businesses in the area to
collaborate to market the area to potential visitors. Over
100 people took part in the workshops and it was agreed that a
brand identity be created focusing on water, nature and
history. From there, 'Discover Dalriada in the Heart of
Argyll…Delve Deeper…' evolved and today that forms the cornerstone
of a new website www.heartofargyll.com that
has been developed by the Tourism Alliance with funding from the
Dalriada Project and Argyll & the Islands Leader.
To complement the work of the Dalriada Project and the Alliance,
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has created dedicated 'Explore for
a Day' itineraries featuring great days out around the Heart of
Argyll. The Alliance is also developing an iApp and is
currently working with Argyll & Bute Council, British Waterways
Scotland, The Waterways Trust, Historic Scotland and SNH on a
Crinan Canal Tourism Development Project that will see the
introduction of directional signage, mile markers and cycle
parking.
Commenting, Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland said:
"I am delighted to have been invited to launch the Heart of
Argyll Tourism Alliance and I'm keen to outline what VisitScotland
can do for Argyll businesses, tourism groups and the wider
industry. In the current economic climate, it is more
important than ever that we work together to identify the
opportunities for growth. Worth some £11 billion, tourism is the
bedrock of Scotland's economy, and one of our most sustainable
industries, touching all other sectors, so is hugely
important."
Dalriada Project Chair, Karen Moore, said:
"The Dalriada Project was set up six years ago to enhance
people's access and understanding of the natural and cultural
heritage of the Mid-Argyll region. The opening of the Access
Network today and the emergence of the Heart of Argyll Tourism
Alliance is just a small part of what has been achieved and will
provide a lasting legacy of the Dalriada Project. We hope to
see many more people visiting the region and enjoying all that the
area has to offer."
Stan Phillips, Scottish Natural Heritage area officer said:
"This part of Argyll is extraordinary - perhaps richer in
wildlife, history and as beautiful as anywhere else in
Scotland. Those of us who live here know that but we want to
inspire people from further afield to come and enjoy it. With
the website, the walking trails and our 'Explore for a Day'
leaflets you can go on a self-guided tour of some of the highlights
of this often forgotten part of the world, and see them for
yourself."
Joanna Ashton, Interim Chair of the Heart of Argyll Tourism
Alliance, said:
"The Alliance is long overdue. It offers us real scope to
work together to promote an area that is a truly unique and scenic
corner of Scotland within a two hour drive of Glasgow. Here
we have the birthplace of the Scottish nation, the highest
concentration of prehistoric rock art in Europe, the Crinan Canal -
the UK's most scenic shortcut - Corryvreckan, the third largest
whirlpool in the world and the famous beavers. There is an
abundance of fascinating and tranquil places to visit and the
waters that surround Argyll offer some of the best sailing and
water sports in the world.
We have a great opportunity to achieve deserved recognition for
this wonderful place and to encourage visitors to come and explore
all that it has to offer. Tourism touches all of us and by
joining the Alliance today and working together, we can develop a
meaningful approach to marketing the area that will ensure the
future success of all of our businesses."
Notes to News Editors:
1. The Heart of Argyll Tourism Alliance covers the area known as
Mid Argyll, loosely bounded by Ardfern, Inveraray, Tarbert, Loch
Fyne, and the Sound of Jura. It incorporates some of the most
scenic parts of Scotland's west coast, from the picturesque fishing
village of Tarbert in the south to Loch Craignish in the north,
over to Kilberry, Knapdale and Crinan in the west and across to
Inverary in the east.
Late in 2009 the Mid Argyll Chamber of Commerce had been looking
into how the area could better market itself and simultaneously the
Dalriada Project, which was nearing completion, decided to run a
series of workshops to better engage with local businesses
specifically to raise awareness of the work being progressed. The
first workshop identified a need for businesses in the area to
collaborate to market the area to potential visitors. Mid Argyll
was the only area within Argyll & Bute which did not have an
active tourism group.
Points of interest about the Heart of Argyll - the founding
Kings of Scotland were crowned here; Sean Connery starred as 007 in
'From Russia with Love' here; the Queen frequently spent
holidays moored on the Royal Yacht Brittania here; and more
recently Scotland's first new family of beavers for 400 years have
made their home here.
2. The Dalriada Project was established in 2006 following a
successful bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund. The project was
a Landscape Partnership Scheme and was funded by the Heritage
Lottery Fund and a range of other partners including Forestry
Commission Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, Argyll and Bute
Council, Argyll and the Islands LEADER and Argyll and the Islands
Enterprise.
The project area covered 296km2 of Mid Argyll that includes,
North Knapdale, Kilmartin Glen as far north as Carnassarie Castle,
the Crinan Canal Corridor and Kilmichael Glassary. The
Dalriada Project was involved in a wide range of activity to
enhance the natural and cultural heritage and promote the enjoyment
of the Dalriada area. With funding for up to £3.1 million,
there were 10 projects in all. The project was completed in
2010 and the Heart of Argyll Tourism Alliance is one of its
legacies.
For further information or pictures please contact
Joanne Kerr on tel: 07801 953557 or
email: info@joannekerrpr.co.uk
11 March 2011