Projects: Car parks and toilets are top priorities

Car parks, motor home facilities and toilets dominate the growing list of community projects looking for support from the Scottish Government’s rural tourism infrastructure fund (RTIF).

Highland Council has put forward 18 projects to bid for part of the £3 million fund, though projects from earlier phases continue to be delayed by coronavirus.

Phase three gives applicants the opportunity to apply for a small design grant to support some of the upfront costs associated with their project.

Of the 18 being put forward, all except two are from communities wanting to build or extend car parks, install facilities for motor homes or put in or upgrade toilets.

These places include Gairloch, Arisaig, Elgol, Sleat, Balintore, Kyle of Sutherland, Dornoch, Kinlochewe, Achintee, Falls of Foyers, Invermoriston, Aultbea,

Kilt Rock, Strathpeffer, and Ardnamurchan.

The National Trust is looking for help to improve tourist infrastructure along the A82 in Glencoe and Glen Etive.

In Drumnadrochit, meanwhile, the Glenurquhart Rural Community Association has put forward a project to diversify and develop its new community social enterprise initiative and develop active travel plans.

But the Covid-19 pandemic has delayed projects signed off in phases one and two of the fund.

The only project fully completed is the John Muir Trust’s introduction of composting toilets and a car park at Blahbeinn, Skye.

Other projects waiting to start include improvements to the Old Man of Storr toilets on Skye, a car park for Glenfinnan, motorhome chemical waste facilities at Lochinver and new toilets and motorhome facilities at Traigh beach in Mallaig.

Concerned resident Duncan Ferguson

A tent on the beach at Loch Morlich