Success of walking weekend inspires thought of larger Heritage Festivals

A free heritage walking weekend encouraged people to get out and explore their local area.

Organised by Soirbheas for the Strathglass and Glenurquhart area the project was funded by Paths for All's Smarter Choices, Smarter Places fund, and developed along with project partners Strathglass Heritage Association, Strathglass Marketing Association, Glen Urquhart Heritage Group and Loch Ness Hub.

Soirbheas is a registered charity, whose objectives are to strengthen and support the communities of Glen Urquhart and Strathglass, through revenues from local renewable energy schemes.

Offering a series of guided walks and talks, stories of the historical environment were brought to life by people with an interest in local history.

Led by the Glenurquhart Heritage Group, the walks in Glenurquhart included a heritage trail around Drumnadrochit, a visit to Corrimony Chambered Cairn, which included a dousing demonstration, a visit to Corrimony House, Divach Lodge and Divach Falls.

Strathglass Heritage Association, meanwhile, led visits to Clachan Comar, the Davoch of Clachan, Tomich conservation village, Guisachan House, Comar Wood Dun, and a heritage trail round the former Chisholm Estate. Illustrated talks were also given on the Davoch of Clachan and on Comar Wood Dun.

Soirbheas are now in conversation with the heritage groups and Loch Ness Hub to see if the event could become a much bigger annual festival for both locals and visitors to enjoy.

With funding from Historic Environment Scotland, there are plans to develop heritage trails to sites of historical and archaeological interest.

Strathglass Heritage Association is already working on its trail, with a dedicated website here

To find out more about Glenurquhart Heritage Group email karascott@soirbheas.org

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