New monolith marks long distance route terminus at Inverness.

Work takes place today (Monday 28th May) to install a new monolith marking the terminus of the Great Glen Way long distance route at Inverness Castle.

Organised by the “The Great Glen Ways Initiative”, the works are part of a £200,000 project to increase and improve public interpretation facilities along the Great Glen.

The current Inverness marker, which was previously unveiled by HRH The Prince Andrew, Earl of Inverness at the official opening of the long distance route in April 2002, will be replaced by a new larger monolith cut from Caithness flagstone.

An identical stone marker will be installed at Fort William tomorrow to mark the western terminus of the Great Glen Way and others are already in place at various locations along the Caledonian Canal. A further 31 large and distictive timber structures have been set up throughout the Glen and waymarker posts and other signs are being renewed. A total of 52 information and interpretation panels are being produced and will be installed in the near future. The main themes cover history, archaeology and folklore; forest management, natural history and wildlife. All structures and signs have a distinctive Great Glen Ways design.

Ann Hackett, Highland Council’s Great Glen Ways Project Officer said: “We are looking for a home for the old stone monoliths and are inviting community groups within the Great Glen to come forward with ideas to use the old stones within a community project.

“Community groups who are interested in giving the stones a new purpose should  contact me on tel: 01463 702565 or e-mail: ann.hackett@highland.gov.uk as soon as possible. I am also interested to hear from any community groups that might be planning their own interpretation projects within the Glen, because we may be able to provide assistance.”

Placed downhill from the old marker, the new Inverness monolith will be in a position that has been agreed with the Inverness Civic Trust. An archaeologist will be present on site during the work. New information panels will be installed on the monolith in the near future.

Following a route between Inverness and Fort William, the Great Glen Way is Scotland’s fourth and Highland’s third national long distance route. In Inverness the Great Glen Way starts at Inverness Castle and heads out across the Ness Islands, up to Craig Dunain and then west towards Blackfold and Abriachan.

The Great Glen Ways project aims to encourage people to explore the Glen by boot, boat and bike. It incorporates not only the Great Glen Way, but also the Great Glen Mountain Bike Trails and the Caledonian Canal. Since 2005, as part of this project, work has been underway to increase and improve public interpretation facilities along the Great Glen.

The Great Glen Ways Initiative is managed by The Highland Council in partnership with British Waterways, Forestry Commission Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage. The European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) has contributed 45% of the project funding, with the remainder contributed by the project partners. Since 2005, as part of this project, work has been underway to increase and improve public interpretation facilities along the Great Glen.