D & E to make a splash with Dolphin Shuttle
Issued by D & E Coaches
The first shuttle bus service is to be run to and from Chanonry Point, the Highlands’ dolphin-spotting hotspot, which attracts 150,000 visitors a year.
D & E Coaches have agreed to a request from Fortrose and Rosemarkie Community Council and will begin the service from April 1 – in a ‘Dolphin Shuttle’ with special livery.
The aim is to provide a service which stops dolphin seekers from blocking the road to the Point with their cars, blocking access to houses and preventing access to the golf club.
“This is an unsubsidised service which we will be trialling for the April 1 to August 31, the period when tourists are most keen to visit Chanonry Point”, said Donald Mathieson, founder and managing director of Inverness-based D & E Coaches.
“The community council asked for a bus service to stop the nuisance parking. We investigated and decided to go ahead with a shuttle. It is also beneficial to visitors who don’t have cars.
“Highland Council have been extremely helpful as they, too, want to solve the parking problem. The council is also to erect signs to promote our service.”
The council are erecting a bus stop at Marine Terrace, Rosemarkie, and replacing the existing bus shelter in Station Square, Fortrose. These will be the two main pick-up points for the ‘dolphin run’ as they are close to the villages’ principal car parks.
“We hope that local businesses can also benefit from trade from visitors going in to the centre of these villages to catch a bus to see the Moray Firth’s hugely popular dolphins”, added Mr Mathieson.
In response to many complaints, double yellow lines have been painted on Ness Road leading to Chanonry Point.
The Highland Council invested heavily in upgrading the site in early 2016. This has vastly improved the visitor experience, but it was recognised that due to the limited space on the site there was still a need for visitor management to deal with the huge number of vehicles entering the site during the summer months.
Speaking on behalf of the Black Isle Ward Members, local councillor and member of The Highland Council’s Tourism Working Group Gordon Adam welcomed the D & E response to the Fortrose and Rosemarkie Community Council’s initiative and said: ”We are delighted that D & E are going to run a shuttle bus service.
“It will help to reduce congestion at Chanonry Point and also links in to the regular buses from Inverness and Cromarty to Fortrose.”
The ‘Dolphin Shuttle’ will cost £2.50 return for adults and £1.25 for children with a family ticket for two adults and up to three children at £7. Twelve return services daily will be run from Rosemarkie and Fortrose to the Point.