Staff from Cobbs Bakery in the Loch Ness village of Drumnadrochit are trying out pedal power to help the environment
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Bakery staff are trying out pedal power for commuting to their work place near Loch Ness in a bid to help the environment.
Cobbs Bakery in Drumnadrochit is trialling three e-bikes under a scheme operated by Home Energy Scotland (HES).
If it proves successful, Cobbs, which also owns a string of hotels and coffee shops, will consider buying the bikes – and possibly more.
Willie Cameron, business development director for Cobbs, said it fitted in with the wider “greening” of the area which includes the Bunloit Rewilding Project which aims to increase biodiversity while creating new jobs.
“We are conscious as a business that post-pandemic we have to be fairly visionary and create a sustainable tourism product,” he said.
“The more we can do in tackling the challenges of the climate emergency, the better for our business and the planet.”
The three bikes are being trialled by staff to get to and from work.
“They all want to be part of the the whole mission to recover post pandemic but to recover in a more ethical and sustainable way than prior to the pandemic,” he said.
“We want to be as sustainable a business as possible in promoting the whole of the Highlands as an area of sustainability and conscious travel.”
An e-bike trial is also taking place at Whitebridge on the opposite side of Loch Ness.
The Energy Saving Trust started co-ordinating the free e-bike trials delivered through HES in 2018.
It is targeting individuals and organisations such as disabled people, job seekers, over 65s, volunteers and groups supporting vulnerable households, key workers and those in very rural locations.
So far during the current financial year the trust has supplied bikes to 11 different organisations and GP practices, reaching 106 individuals in Inverness-shire and Nairn.
Scottish Government funded interest-free loans are available to buy e-bikes.
HES’s sustainable transport co-ordinator in the Highlands and Islands, Tilia Maas Geesteranus, said: “It’s great to see how the trials are helping people to understand and experience the benefits of cycling with an e-bike and how it helps regain their pride and enthusiasm for being active and outdoors. HES are proud that our relationship with Energy Saving Trust is helping to promote greener, cheaper and healthier transport choices.”
