Way to go! Great Glen Ways Project reaches finals of UK Awards
Issued by British Waterways Scotland
The Great Glen Ways Initiative has reached the UK finals of the 2010 Waterways Renaissance Awards which celebrate the best sustainable waterway regeneration and development projects across the UK.
The innovative partnership project led by British Waterways Scotland, Forestry Commission Scotland, The Highland Council and Scottish Natural Heritage, is one of only three finalists in the Recreation and Tourism category of the awards which are co-ordinated by the British Urban Regeneration Association (BURA) and The Waterways Trust.
The winners will be announced at a prestigious ceremony to be held at the Lowry in Manchester on Wednesday 17th March.
The Great Glen Ways Initiative celebrates the unique geography, culture and history of the Great Glen, which sweeps 73 miles from Fort William to Inverness, by promoting the area as an enthralling outdoor activity destination which can be visited in three sustainable 'Ways' – by ‘Boot, Boat or Bike’ along the Caledonian Canal, the Great Glen Way Long Distance Route and the Great Glen Mountain Bike Trails.
Central to the project has been making access to the area as easy as possible through clear signage and the development of 49 colourful interpretation posts. Made in stone and timber, these orientation panels introduce visitors to the beauty and heritage of the region covering topics as diverse as industrial history, folklore, geology, flora and fauna, social history and local walks.
For those wishing to learn more before their visit, there is also a colourful DVD.
Launched by Great Glen enthusiast Muriel Gray in March 2008, the Great Glen Ways Initiative also aims to promote the opportunities for outdoor activity within the Great Glen amongst local communities. Over 120 schoolchildren from over 10 schools, for example, attended a series of ‘Sample the Ways’ days at the time of the launch – ‘meeting’ characters from the Glen’s history, taking a boat trip along the Caledonian Canal and trying out mountain biking skills.
Russell Thomson, Waterway Manager, Highlands, British Waterways Scotland, says: “The Waterways Renaissance Awards are highly regarded so being recognised as a finalist is a fantastic acknowledgement of the quality of the waterside environment in the Great Glen and the real partnership spirit we have created in working so closely together to promote a single, exciting identity for the area.
“I am also delighted that our partnership work has been a catalyst for further exciting tourism development. The Great Glen Ways ‘Style Guide’, which includes tips for interpretive best practice, has also been adopted for use by other groups in the Glen which again helps ensure we have the strongest and clearest identity for what is such a beautiful destination for visitors and a wonderful asset for the local community.
“We have also now embarked upon the development of Scotland’s first canal canoe trail – the Great Glen Canoe Trail – with our partners The Highland Council, Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland and the Scottish Canoe Association.”
Councillor Ian Ross, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Planning Environment and Development Committee, adds: “We are delighted to have been short-listed for this prestigious award which reflects the strong partnership work between The Highland Council and its partners over the past years. The Great Glen and Loch Ness are world famous tourism assets and the Caledonian Canal is a key part of this landscape.”
For further information about the Great Glen Ways, visit www.greatglenways.info
Fore further information about the Caledonian Canal, visit www.scottishcanals.co.uk