Final stop for 2022 immersive tour is Badenoch

The Badenoch capital of Kingussie marked the last stop this year for the Spirit of the Highlands and Islands immersive portal tour.

Talla Nan Ros in Kingussie hosted the 360 degree immersive experience where members of the community were able to visit and enjoy a virtual journey through the Highlands and Islands. 

The Spirit of the Highlands and Islands project aims to encourage visitors to explore and experience all parts of the Highlands and Islands, whether they already live in the region or just visiting.  The immersive portal aims to showcase locations across the area and inspire visitors to attend and support local events and immerse themselves in local culture and adventure.

Many of the visitors to the immersive experience commented that they were transported to places that evoked memories from times gone by or had given them inspiration for their next trip.  A popular attraction for some was the VR (virtual reality) headsets which offers a different perspective of the faster-paced journey through the Highlands and Islands versus the more relaxing and emotive sea-scape film that offered watchers a chance to reflect and draw a connection to the landscape scenes.

Cllr Russell Jones, Vice Chair of Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee said: “It is fantastic to see technology being used in a captivating way to inspire tourism within the region and encourage communities to explore other parts of the Highlands and Islands they might not have otherwise visited.  The region has so much to offer year-round and the footage shown within the experience really does showcase the autumn and winter seasons beautifully.”

Eileen Stuart, Director of Nature and Climate Change at NatureScot said: “The immersive portal is an exciting project that brings the wonder of the Highlands and Islands to a wider audience in an innovative and engaging way.  It is great to see the project come to life and I think it will be a real asset to the Highland’s tourism industry. Nature Scot is proud to be supporting this project through the Natural and Cultural Heritage Fund, funded by the European Rural Development Fund (ERDF).”

Mark Tate, High Life Highland Chair said: “With so much to uncover throughout the Highlands and Islands, the immersive portal offers the opportunity for visitors and communities to be inspired by the natural and cultural beauty that, for many of us, is right on our doorstep. It aims to provide a platform for visitors to explore and really engage with our local culture and communities.”

The Spirit of the Highlands and Islands project is a partnership project between The Highland Council and High Life Highland, which is delivered in collaboration with VisitScotland. 

The Spirit of the Highlands and Islands project is supported by a grant from the Natural and Cultural Heritage Fund (NCHF), led by NatureScot and funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The Spirit of the Highlands and Islands project is part of the Inverness Castle project. The Castle, opening in 2025, will benefit from £30m investment to support its redevelopment from the Scottish and UK Governments, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and a range of other partners.    

The Inverness Castle project is part of the Inverness and Highland City-Region deal, which is a joint initiative supported by up to £315m investment from the UK and Scottish governments, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and University of the Highlands and Islands, aimed at stimulating sustainable regional economic growth.