News from Loch Ness

Anyone who reads my other blog will know I am not well at the moment. However I shall try to keep posting. These are some news items from Loch Ness which might interest some.

A WALK or gallop around the south side of Loch Ness is set to become a reality next year with the opening of an official trail. An informal chat last summer set the wheels in motion for a bid to create the new route. Bed and breakfast owner Graeme Ambrose was discussing ideas with Aird and Loch Ness Councillor Margaret Davidson about how to attract more people to the area. Out of that they began talking about creating the trail which found favour with local residents, businesses, Highland Council and Scottish Natural Heritage. Several months later, a total of £181,000 is now in place to build about four miles of new path which will connect existing trails and minor roads around the southern side of the loch. It is hoped that the finished trail will stretch from Loch Tarff to Torbreck via Whitebridge, Foyers, Inverfarigaig and Dores. Attracting more visitors to these villages is the simple reason why Destination Loch Ness (DLN) has worked on ensuring the idea comes to fruition. THE legend of the Loch Ness Monster - which has kept tills ringing merrily in the Highlands for many decades - could soon be earning money for fun. Source and full story:http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/11915/On_the_road_to_tourism_boom_with_30-mile_Loch_Ness_trail.html

For Nessie is set to appear on the world's most popular family board game, Monopoly. The makers of Monopoly are inviting people from around the Highlands to come up with 30 Highland and Inverness landmarks to replace the traditional familiar London streets of Mayfair, Old Kent Road and landmarks such as Trafalgar Square and Euston Station for inclusion in a customised Highland edition of the game. Top of the list for a new home would of course be Nessie, and Inverness Town House is also being tipped for a top slot. Whitehall, one of the original addresses on the Monopoly board, could be replaced by Highland Council's Glenurquhart Road HQ.

source and full story: http://www.highland-news.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/7123/Nessie_is_streets_ahead_in_new_Monopoly.html

Competition steps up to woo Loch Ness tourists

Rival businesses’ expansion plans aim to lure more visitors to popular location

Published: 17/03/2010

Rival businesses are preparing to go head to head in a monster battle for Loch Ness tourists. Two months after Jacobite Cruises revealed plans for a £2.3million tourist centre and jetty at Brackla on the western shore of the loch, the family-owned Loch Ness Exhibition Centre at Drumnadrochit has announced proposals for developing its existing waterside facilities, 850 yards away beside the Clansman Hotel. Its £2million application, after eight months of research and consultation, seeks approval for enhanced access, retail and catering facilities and public parking. The plans incorporate the Loch Ness and Caledonian Canal canoe trail and promise to create up to 40 peak-season jobs. The exhibition centre’s managing director, Robert Bremner, said: “We are very excited by the positive impact this development will have on facilities and jobs in the area. It will enhance existing visitor amenities in a safe and attractive manner, offering a scale and design of development which we believe is entirely appropriate to the location. “It will allow significantly improved views of the loch and will provide new public parking and new public toilet facilities.” He added that the proposed development would also create local jobs and enable the area “to continue to contribute to a competitive, sustainable and adaptable Highland economy”.The business is organising a public meeting, to be held at Drumnadrochit, to update the community on the development. The Loch Ness Exhibition Centre was co-founded by the late Ronnie Bremner in 1980 and is now operated by his sons, Robert and David. David Bremner said: “We are, of course, aware there is another application being planned. But this isn’t something we want to comment on at this stage. We’re very excited about the application we are making and want to concentrate on that.” Loch Ness cruise operator Jacobite Cruises announced plans in January for a new harbour, car park and visitor facilities on land each side of the lochside A82 Inverness-Fort William road at Brackla featuring an L-shaped harbour and 200ft jetty, with retail and dining provision. The venture promises to double the company’s existing 12-strong full-time Brackla workforce. It expects to submit a formal planning application within the next month. Director Rod Michie said: “Choice is everything, isn’t it? A bit of healthy competition on the loch and more amenities for the tourists has got to be a good thing.” source: http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1649020#ixzz0iQQSzHAJ

Well what can one say? Nothing except ..sigh. Makes me almost glad I may not be well enough to ever visit again. It will certainly no longer be a peaceful place.