The Kintyre Way is inviting everyone with a personal, community or business interest in the popular long-distance walking route to a series of exciting workshops.
The project is being led by Scottish Community Tourism (SCOTO), a network of community tourism enterprises with extensive and varied expertise in the sector.
SCOTO has already been in positive discussions with stakeholders across Kintyre and beyond and these will culminate in nine workshops throughout the peninsula to more closely engage with communities.
The primary aim is to identify the wide range of views on how the Kintyre Way can improve the lives and economies in their localities.
“Perhaps you have ideas about what could be done differently or better in terms of tourism and community life?” said a Kintyre Way spokesperson.
“At the workshops, we’ll explore how the Kintyre Way currently impacts on communities – good or bad – and, importantly, what future opportunities can be identified then developed.
“A strong underlying theme is ‘the notion of identity’: what sets Kintyre communities apart and differentiates them from one another?”
The events will welcome guests from 10am, with the main workshop taking place from 10.30am to 12.30pm, followed by a working lunch.
The Machrihanish event will welcome guests with a light supper at 5.50pm, with its main workshop taking place from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.
The workshops will take place in the following locations:
- Saturday October 21: Tarbert – Templar Arts and Leisure Centre
- Monday October 23: Tayinloan, including Clachan – Tayinloan Village Hall
- Tuesday October 24: Gigha – Gigha Village Hall
- Wednesday October 25: Skipness – Skipness Village Hall
- Thursday October 26: Glenbarr – Glenbarr Stores/Café
- Friday October 27: Carradale – Carradale Village Hall
- Saturday October 28: Campbeltown – SKDT Hall, Kirk Street
- Monday October 30: Southend – Dunaverty Hall
- Monday October 30: Machrihanish, 5.50pm-8.30pm, – Ugadale Hotel
Anyone is welcome to sign up for one of the workshops at https://www.scoto.co.uk/networking-events/kintyre-way-workshops
Readers who would like additional information can contact the Kintyre Way by emailing thekintyreway@gmail.com
Carron Tobin, who is leading the project for SCOTO, said: “We believe the time is now for a new approach to how the Kintyre Way is perceived and managed, with a focus on better integrating it within everyday community life and it being seen as an arterial route that connects the communities of Kintyre.
“We hope along its length, from Tarbert to Southend, the Kintyre Way will tell the stories of each community and give visitors from all over the world a better understanding of and closer connections to its people and places.
“This is our chance to do the Kintyre Way, the Kintyre way.”
The project has been made possible thanks to a £10,000 grant from the Fern Cour Community Windfarm Trust.