Dear All, The attached document contains feedback from the Visit Scotland visits to North and North West Sutherland in June 2012. I flagged up the points being made about extending future trips to overnight, especially as this had been ruled out by Visit Scotland for 2012 trips. Alison Young Area Visit Scotland Manager Visitor Services discussed this with her Manager (whom Alison informs me, was very impressed with the feedback) and then provided the following response: Due to budget restraints and staffing levels it is very difficult for our department to fund overnight stays for familiarisation trips, however it may be something that can be considered for the future. I am continuing to discuss opportunities for further partnership working with Visit Scotland. Alison indicated that her Manager intends ( largely due to positive response to the Sutherland visits) to review all familiarisation trips in the area for next year with the aim of developing a programme for the Northern Region; so will need to find out what this means in due course. I look forward to discussing this area of development further and I am discussing with Anne Sutherland how we can progress this together. I would be grateful if you can please forward this document to all those businesses, individuals and organisations who contributed to the visits. Many Thanks Rachel Rachel Skene Head of Tourism Caithness and Sutherland Highlands and Islands Enterprise 01847 805237 07796651306
Visit Scotland and local Hosts - West and North West Sutherland June 2012 The following is a summary of the feedback received from the Visit Scotland staff who visited North and North West Sutherland in June2012 on familiarisation trips hosted by the local communities. This was a pilot collaborative initiative between HIE Strengthening Communities and Tourism Caithness and Sutherland, Visit Scotland and Community and tourism Development organisations in areas including The Kyle of Sutherland; Assynt ; Kinlochbervie; Durness; Melness, Tongue and Skerray; Bettyhill. I hope you find this information useful and of interest. Q1. 1 st impressions of the area? Rosehall- A Beautiful area, full of greenery. LochInver- The drive to Lochinver was stunning. Great views from the VIC Kinlochbervie- Quiet, did not expect to find so many attractions. The area was a lot greener than I expected with more people and good roads. Extensive area with excellent scenery, mountains and rock formations and although roads mainly single track, there are very few transport delays on the road systems and they are easily navigated The drive from Inverness to Rosehall was very pleasant, and although I d been that way before, the Struie road is very beautiful. The drive from Rosehall to Lochinver takes you through some exceptionally beautiful landscapes, and the fantastic weather we had that day only added to that. Having even a passing interest in geology makes the drive up the west coast even more interesting, as geological processes are laid out before your eyes. The mountainous scenery is rugged and unspoilt, and to my mind is the most exceptional scenery to be found anywhere in the world. Spectacular scenery en-route from Inverness, via Ullapool, to Durness. It was very beautiful, rugged and unspoilt and the mixed weather seemed to improve the views. The scenery in the area is extremely impressive and this will be a major draw for visitors. The local history, particularly around the clearance villages and the Clan MacKay, should also be good for attracting visitors. The drive over was much greener than expected. Lochinver felt much more of a tourist hub. A tourist village destination in its own right. Kinlochbervie and area was majestic and desolate with beaches to be envied and truly promoted. How did your perceptions and understanding of the area differ from the actual experience? Childhood memories of long journeys on windy roads to places such as Thurso had led me to perceive that anywhere North of Dornoch was difficult to get too! This visit however, showed
me that in fact you can reach the North West within a couple of hours on a fairly straight road and that there is a great deal to see and do. Have previously travelled through region but only on main route and didn t realise there were so many small side roads leading to some of the best beaches in Scotland although a car is a necessity in this area due to lack of public transport. Finding places to visit on a wet day may be a problem for visitors. Having been around the west coast before (though not Lochinver and Kinlochbervie) I had some idea of the landscape, though it never fails to take your breath away. The difference, if you can call it that, is that of travelling through a place as opposed to looking at it on a map. It is very useful to actually drive from place to place, as it means you can suggest routes and their times to visitors. Also, seeing some of the scenery people will be driving through, and the various attractions that are available to them, I have started suggesting people take more time travelling through the North West. I was expecting the scenery to be amazing and was particularly surprised by how much Durness had to offer for visitors. It would be a great base for exploring the North West Highlands. The tour we were given of the area around Durness was very interesting and informative and left me wishing that we had more time to explore. I am very eager to come back and complete some of the coastal walks highlighted. Everyone we met was very friendly and enthusiastic about the area and what it had to offer. I really appreciated the free literature we were given and have shared this with family, friends and colleagues. Firstly there are far more arts and crafts attractions in the area than I was expecting. I was familiar with the Balnakiel Craft Village before travelling but the number of open studios across the north surprised me. The sports centre in Bettyhill was very impressive; I was under the impression that the nearest place for something like that would be Thurso. Overall there were far more indoor attractions than I expected. I had been under the impression that the majority of attractions were outdoor attractions such as the beaches and mountains. Much more majestic than imagined. Easier to reach. Q. 2 Your top six words to describe the qualities / experience of the area? Peaceful, sunny, scenic, picturesque, informative, welcoming Lovely beaches, beautiful views, interesting people. Scenic, Expansive, Friendly, quiet-roads, beaches, wildlife Beautiful, rushed (unfortunate but unavoidable!), peaceful, varied, passionate (the people we met regarding the area), surprising. Beautiful, rugged, unspoilt, interesting, creative and welcoming. Beautiful scenery, fascinating history, friendly community. Wild, peaceful, free, community,reachable, unique
Q.3 Could anything have happened or be changed to improve this type of visit? It was a very enjoyable trip, and it has had an effect on the suggestions I make to visitors, so in that respect the trip was worthwhile both for myself and those who organised it who will hopefully benefit from my suggestions, including the visitors themselves. Having only a finite time it was unavoidable that it would be something of a whistle stop tour, and I have no complaints about the choice of places we visited. The area as a whole is stunningly beautiful, and regardless of the attractions is reason alone to visit. It was great to visit Highland Stoneware, it s fantastic to see things still being created in Scotland, and I have suggested visitors go here regularly since our trip. The only criticism I have is that we did not get enough time! I wish that it had been possible for us to stay overnight and split the trip between two days. The museum stop, although interesting, was longer than at other locations. I would have like to have seen more of the accommodation and facilities that are available e.g. B&B, campsites, hostels and shops The time we spent at Rosehall would have been more beneficial if we had been given a presentation on the area and its attractions. The whole day felt rushed so although it was a great taster of the area I would have enjoyed driving the coastal route, which Rachel had mentioned, from Lochinver up to Kinlochbervie. A visit to Sandwood Bay would also have been valuable as it is a highlight of Kinlochbervie. More time in Tongue and Melness might have been useful. The visit and agenda felt rushed in places. We could have spent more time seeing relevant places and getting more personal knowledge. I know that some of the hosts felt that they had not delivered their complete agenda with the time given. The visit to Rosehall felt mostly unplanned and, in my experience, negative. There seemed to be no intention to show us the delights of the area and we left well behind schedule creating a knock on effect. I believe we would have learned a lot more if we could have spread this trip with an overnight stay hence allowing more time to physically see the attributes of each area. I know that Roger Glover would have liked to have shown us the Lochinver Mission and its opportunities such as bunkhouse/ marine centre etc http://www.lochinvermission.org.uk/ Perhaps an overnight stay at the mission might combine both.
Q. 4 Please supply a quick paragraph to sums up your experience of the North and North West Sutherland: It was an enjoyable and informative day. The spectacular views of the rolling mountains and the sparkling lochs were the highlight for me. The time given by the different communities to show us the sights of each area was very much appreciated and the hospitality shown was wonderful, especially the cakes in Kinlochbervie! This is a beautiful area full of wonderful scenery and everyone we met were most helpful and friendly. Our visits were interesting and gave a good overview of the local culture and way of life. Visitors would find this useful for finding their way around and understanding their visit. Although this area can appear remote on maps, the journey by car is not too long and a large area can be visited in a day. There are a small number of hotels and cafes supplying local food of excellent quality and the scenery and beaches is more impressive than some more popular places abroad. One of the main drawbacks is the lack of public transport and perhaps things to do on a wet day. However with the knowledge obtained during the visit I shall certainly be back to visit again. We were heartily welcomed to the area at Mackay s hotel in Durness and, over delicious cake, shortbread and coffee, given a very informative introduction to the area. We were then whisked off on a whistle stop tour of the areas highlights and history. Some highlights for me were mighty Smoo Cave and the stop at Lotte Glob s studio. Lunch at the Ben Loyal Hotel was a delicious spread of local produce and a chance to meet and chat to some of the very friendly local business people. We then drove to Bettyhill where we experienced how important the North Coast Leisure Centre is to the local community and what it has to offer visitors. The final stop of the day was a guided tour of the fascinating Strathnaver museum, where we were given an insight into the heritage of the local community. We then drove back to Inverness via Loch Loyal and experienced a completely different type of Highland landscape. This was a very interesting trip for me, as it was the first time I had been to that part of the north coast. I was aware of many of the natural attractions in the area, such as Smoo Cave and the many beaches. From our visitor guides I had come across some of the attractions, but not in much detail, so I found it really instructive to visit some of the sites and get information about others. It was also interesting to see some of the smaller sites that the locals know of, such as the clearance village, which visitors might miss. It is unexplored land. Vast, majestic with a communal sense of purpose. A land of extreme beauty, untouched... As Calgacus might have said We, the most distant dwellers upon earth, the last of the free Q. 5 Would you recommend this type of visit continues? Giving directions and promoting areas to visitors comes naturally when you have experienced it yourself so I would definitely recommend that visits like these continue. As well as being VisitScotland staff we are also potential visitors for these areas. If we have enjoyed ourselves on the FAM trip it is very likely we will return in our own time. Last week I spent a day in Lochinver and the surrounding area and sampled one of their famous pies! I doubt that I would have thought to visit the area had it not been for our FAM trip.
Yes, definitely! It is important for VIC staff to know the places and visitor attractions they are describing and recommending to visitors. Yes. Knowledge obtained and observations made will be passed on to our visitors Absolutely, and I would suggest that priority is given to people more recently employed by VisitScotland, everyone can benefit from them. This trip would definitely be of benefit to other members of VisitScotland staff. Yes I would most definitely recommend these trips continue. I would suggest an overnight stay to maximise time and effort ratio to experience gained. More involvement! Q. 6 Would you be willing to feedback on how knowledge gathered on this visit has been useful to you, following this season? Yes Yes but we are open all year round and would you please give me plenty of warning. Yes --information will be passed to visitors especially those who wish to get away from the local attractions such as Loch Ness Yes Q. 7 Any other comments / thoughts / ideas / requests? I really enjoyed the day and thank you for the opportunity. As a comment I would add that this was a long day with lots to see, lots to do but it was tiring and I wasn t home till late at the middle of the season with an early start in the morning. Obviously the travelling cannot be changed but the visits could be a little fewer, a bit longer and more detailed.. A news letter from time to time with events etc which can be shared with our visitors. Only - please continue, very informative and I believe helpful. But perhaps more seeing and doing
REPORT provided following Assynt and Kinlochbervie day Rosehall The first stop on our FAM trip was Rosehall. The majority of the people present had little experience of the area, with Debbie having done the walk at Ravens Rock. The information which Lynsey had sent out before hand had been very informative about the attractions including the Falls of Shin, the whisky trail and Carbisdale Castle. The visit to Rosehall to meet some of the community has given us the opportunity to create a channel of communication between the VIC s and the Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust. An events list from Rosehall either weekly or monthly would help us when we are encouraging visitors to explore the area. As suggested in our discussion a road trip map would be an excellent way to entice visitors as we find it can be difficult to explain to the best route to take to see all the highlights such as Croick Church. Including the craft shop, cafes, campsites and any other attractions they want to promote in this map would be helpful. Although we were provided with information before the trip regarding the attractions in the area, everyone in the group felt it would have been more beneficial if our time at Rosehall had been spent going through these things to see. This would also have given us an opportunity to ask questions about the area to help increase our knowledge. Lochinver The amazing drive to Lochinver is in itself an attraction for visitors. The set up at the VIC is excellent with all the historical information on the region. The ranger s area upstairs is great for kids and also interesting for adults. As a centre if felt more like a museum with is brilliant for a small community. Once we had met Roger Glover, Rachel Skene and the VIC staff we headed to Highland Stoneware. Highland Stoneware is definitely a visitor attraction as people today enjoy watching a process from start to finish and like to know that not everything is made by machines! It shows the hard work and skill that is required to make their products, and therefore justifies what may initially seem a high price. The giant TV and sofas outside were great and provide a perfect photo opportunity. 1 - Being shown round Highland Stoneware
2 - "Flat Screen TV" and Sofa Sculptures at Highland Stoneware Roger Glover is a very knowledgeable man and it was great to have lunch with him. Knowing that there are plenty of options for good food in the area such as the Inver Lodge Hotel/Lochinver Larder, as well as the mission means visitors know that Lochinver is more than a one day visit. Our lunch at the Inver Lodge hotel was lovely, serving all four courses together was a novel idea but it worked very well, and both the food and service were excellent. 3 - Enjoying lunch at the Inver Lodge Hotel Kinlochbervie Rachel demonstrated her knowledge of the area on the drive to Kinlochbervie. As we did not have time to stop it was nice to still be able to learn about the various spots along the way. We then met Gary Sutherland who gave us an excellent tour of KLB. Our first stop was the harbour which provided fantastic views of the boats with the mountains in the background. The planned development in this part would definitely bring visitors down to this beautiful spot. 4 - Linlochbervie harbour
We had a quick but enjoyable stop at the Free Spirit Trekking Centre at the end of the road. It is certainly a stunning location to ride through, and it gives visitors an alternative to walking and cycling in the area. 5 - Cardigan the sheep at the Free Spirit Riding Centre The beach at Oldshoremore was spectacular and it was hard to believe we were still in Scotland! Gary also pointed out that some of the rocks there are among the oldest in the world! Having local knowledge like this passed on to the VICs will definitely help us promote the area. 6 - Oldshoremore beach - with and without Gavin The information pack which Gary created is also excellent and gives people numerous reasons as to why they should visit KLB and the surrounding region. The area as a whole certainly made an impression on us, with everyone declaring their intention to return to explore more thoroughly. Meeting Rebecca and John at the end of the day was great as it means we can put more faces to names when we have contact in the future. The Ridgway Adventure video which we watched certainly promotes the area and is a spot we will recommend for kayaking. I think if people knew the background of the Ridgway family this would be another draw for them. The FAM trip was an extremely enjoyable day out. Having been to these places means we can visualize the routes when suggesting them to visitors, something we ve been doing regularly since our return! As well as increasing our knowledge of the area, our visit will hopefully mean we will now have more communication with the different areas and groups within them. Information regarding upcoming events can be passed on to the VICs that in turn will help encourage people to visit the North West. Once again David, Debbie, Gavin and John would like to thank everyone involved for a fantastic day out, and please feel free to get in contact with any of us.