23 Feb Public views sought for exciting interpretation plans for Skye Iconic Sites Project
The Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland (OATS), Scotland’s leading environmental charity promoting sustainable public access, is seeking the views of the public on exciting new interpretation plans for the Skye Iconic Sites Project (SISP).
Co-ordinated interpretation (information boards) is being planned across three of Skye’s top tourist destinations including the Old Man of Storr, the Fairy Pools and the Quiraing, with the aim of improving both the quality of visitor experience and educating those new to the island on the heritage and surrounding landscape.
Extensive community engagement is currently being carried out by Lateral North, consultants for this aspect of the project, with feedback being sought from the wider public to help shape plans further.
Children in the local area have been enthusiastically getting involved, giving their opinions and thoughts to Lateral North at a recent community engagement session held at Minginish Hall at Carbost. They also fully immersed themselves in the experience by making their own agricultural and conservation signage to link in with the Skye Iconic Sites Project interpretation plan.
Dougie Baird, CEO at OATS, said: “The interpretation work currently underway is of huge importance, as it will play a big part in the visitor experience and how they interact and understand the sites covered by the Skye Iconic Sites Project.
“As well as giving essential information it is a great opportunity to help visitors emotionally and respectfully connect with the landscape. We would encourage members of the public to get involved and put forward their views in the survey and help us shape the exciting work to come.”
Tom Smith, director of Lateral North, added: “There is so much more to these landscapes than only a beautiful view. The signage to be developed here is a great opportunity to share the unique cultural and natural heritage stories which make Skye’s iconic sites so special.”
Samantha Muir, of Carbost Primary School, said: “It was great for the children to get involved in such an important project for our community. They all relished the opportunity to find out more and give their thoughts on it.
“One of our pupils is the son of the tenants of Glenbrittle Farm whose sheep graze all around the Fairy Pools. He really enjoyed seeing pictures of his farm from 100 years ago, maybe with his great granny or grandpa in them.”
The interpretation plans are part of ongoing work planned by SISP which includes habitat restoration at the Old Man of Storr, the Fairy Pools, and the Quiraing, with new bridges being installed at the Fairy Pools and new paths at the Quiraing and Fairy Pools.
The extensive work aims to improve the visitor experience and achieve sustainable management of remote but popular locations on the island which are suffering as a result of the huge growth in tourism at Skye’s iconic landmarks.
SISP is part of a new almost £9 million Scottish programme of projects to invest in the Highlands and Islands to provide more and better quality opportunities for visitors to enjoy natural and cultural heritage assets. The Natural and Cultural Heritage Fund is led by NatureScot and is part-funded through the(ERDF).
Have your say and take the survey here:
GAELIC Version
Beachdan bhon phoball airson planaichean mìneachaidh aig Pròiseact Làraichean Cliùiteach an Eilein Sgitheanaich
Tha Urras Cothrom air a’ Bhlàr A-muigh an Alba (OATS), prìomh charthannas àrainneachd na h-Alba a tha a’ brosnachadh , a’ sireadh bheachdan bhon phoball air planaichean ùra bùird fhiosrachaidh airson Pròiseact Làraichean Cliùiteach an Eilein Sgitheanaich (SISP).
Tha plana ann airson bùird fhiosrachaidh aig trì de na làraichean turasachd as ainmeile san Eilean Sgitheanach, a’ gabhail a-steach Bodach an Stòir, Glumagan nan Sìthichean agus a’ Chuing-rang, le amas an dà chuid càileachd eòlas luchd-tadhail a leasachadh is barrachd fiosrachaidh air an dualchas is an t-sealladh-tìre mu thimcheall, a thoirt do dhaoine a tha a’ tighinn dhan eilean airson a’ chiad uair.
Tha com-pàirteachadh farsaing an-dràsta air a dhèanamh sa choimhearsnachd le Lateral North, luchd-comhairle airson a’ phàirt seo dhen phròiseact, le beachd-air-ais air iarraidh bhon phoball nas fharsainge airson cuideachadh leis na planaichean a thoirt air adhart.
Tha clann san sgìre ionadail air a bhith a’ gabhail pàirt gu dealasach, a’ toirt seachad na beachdan aca gu Lateral North aig seisean com-pàirteachaidh sa choimhearsnachd bho chionn ghoirid aig Talla Mhinginish ann an Càrrabost. Ghabh iad tlachd às agus rinn iad soidhnichean àiteachais agus glèidhteachais airson a dhol còmhla ri planaichean bùird fhiosrachaidh Pròiseact Làraichean Cliùiteach an Eilein Sgitheanaich.
Thuirt Dougie Baird, Àrd-mhanaidsear OATS: “Tha an obair mhìneachaidh a tha a’ dol air adhart an-dràsta air leth cudromach, oir bidh pàirt mhòr aice a thaobh eòlas luchd-tadhail agus mar a bhios iad ag eadar-obrachadh agus a’ tuigsinn nan làraichean a’ tha uile mar phàirt dhen Phròiseact Làraichean Cliùiteach an Eilein Sgitheanaich.
“A bharrachd air a bhith a’ toirt seachad fiosrachadh riatanach ’s e deagh chothrom a th’ ann luchd-tadhail a chuideachadh gus tlachd a ghabhail às a’ chruth-tìre . Tha sinn airson muinntir a’ phobaill a bhrosnachadh a dhol an sàs is an cuid beachdan a chur thugainn anns an t-suirbhidh airson ar cuideachadh leis an obair sònraichte a tha ri tighinn.”
Thuirt Tom Mac a’ Ghobhainn, stiùiriche Lateral North: “Tha tòrr a bharrachd anns na cruthan-tìre sin na seallaidhean brèagha a-mhàin. ’S e deagh chothrom a th’ anns na soidhnichean seo gus na sgeulachdan a thoirt seachad mu ar dualchas nàdarra is cultarach sònraichte aig làraichean Cliùiteach an Eilein Sgitheanaich.”
Thuirt Samantha Muir, bho Bhun-sgoil Chàrrabost: “Bha e uabhasach math dhan chloinn a bhith an sàs ann am pròiseact cho cudromach dhan choimhearsnachd againn. Chòrd e riutha uile an cothrom fhaighinn barrachd ionnsachadh agus na beachdan aca a thoirt seachad.
“’S e mac màladairean bho Thuathanachas Gleann Breadail a th’ ann an aon dhe na sgoilearan againn agus bidh na caoraich aca ag ionaltradh mu thimcheall Glumagan nan Sìthichean. Chòrd e ris gu mòr a bhith a’ faicinn dealbhan dhen tuathanachas mu 100 bliadhna air ais, is dòcha leis na seann-phàrantan aige annta.
Tha na planaichean eadar-mhìneachaidh mar phàirt de dh’obair leantainneach a tha san amharc le SISP a’ gabhail a-steach ath-nuadhachadh àrainnean aig Bodach an Stòir, Glumagan nan Sìthichean agus a’ Chuing-rang, le drochaidean ùra gan togail aig Glumagan nan Sìthichean agus slighean ùra aig a’ Chuing-rang agus Glumagan nan Sìthichean.
Tha an obair fharsaing ag amas air eòlas luchd-tadhail a leasachadh agus stiùireadh seasmhach a thoirt gu buile ann an àitichean a tha iomallach ach mòr-chòrdte air an eilean ’s a tha a’ fulang leis an fhàs ann an turasachd aig làraichean Cliùiteach an Eilein Sgitheanaich.
Tha SISP na phàirt de shreath phròiseactan ùra an Alba anns a bheil tasgadh de cha mhor £9 millean airson na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean gus barrachd chothroman agus càileachd nas fheàrr a sholarachadh do luchd-tadhail gus tlachd a ghabhail à buannachdan dualchais nàdarra is cultaraich. Tha Maoin Dualchais Nàdarra is Cultaraich air a stiùireadh le NatureScot agus air a mhaoineachadh ann am pàirt tron Mhaoin Leasachaidh Eòrpach (ERDF).
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