Improving access, parking, paths, viewpoints and public toilets at Boleskine House to support inclusive community use, sustainable tourism and the South Loch Ness Trail.
Estimated Price
975000
What do you want to do?
Following the rebuild of the B listed Boleskine House, we want to deliver a coordinated package of infrastructure improvements at and around Boleskine to support community access, sustainable tourism and inclusive use of the South Loch Ness Trail.
The project will deliver:
Redevelopment of the existing Boleskine House car park to improve safety, capacity, accessibility and traffic management
Landscaping around the car parking area to support biodiversity and pollinators
Creation of a safe, clearly defined pathway linking the B852 to the South Loch Ness Trail
Development of a new Loch Ness visitor viewpoint, designed to be accessible for people with mobility needs
Creation of a small visitor hub between Boleskine House and the South Loch Ness Trail to provide orientation and information for members of the public
Provision of permanent, publicly accessible toilets to support visitors, trail users and the local community
Funding is required for professional design, materials, construction, accessibility measures, equipment, signage and associated infrastructure works.
Why is your project important for your community?
Boleskine House sits at a key gateway point between local communities, Loch Ness and the South Loch Ness Trail. At present, a lack of basic infrastructure such as safe parking, accessible paths, viewpoints and public toilets limits the ability of residents, visitors and trail users to enjoy the area safely and inclusively.
This project is important because it:
Addresses a clear gap in visitor and community infrastructure in South Loch Ness
Improves safety and accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists, families and people with mobility needs
Supports sustainable tourism by reducing informal parking and unmanaged access along the single track B852
Enhances use of the South Loch Ness Trail by improving connectivity and facilities
Provides essential public toilets, which are currently lacking in the area
The project aligns strongly with the Local Place Plan priorities around active travel, inclusive access, sustainable tourism, community infrastructure, health and wellbeing and a better of use of local assets. It supports both local residents and the significant number of people who visit Loch Ness and use the trail network each year. The proposals at Boleskine were part of the Local Place Plan when it was agreed.
What positive impact will your project have?
The project will deliver long-term positive outcomes including:
Safer, more accessible access to Loch Ness and the South Loch Ness Trail
Increased use of outdoor spaces by people of all ages and abilities
Improved visitor experience and longer time in the local area
Reduced environmental impact from unmanaged parking and informal paths
Increased local economic benefit through sustainable tourism
Improved wellbeing through access to nature, walking routes and viewpoints
The provision of accessible toilets and viewpoints ensures that people with disabilities, families with young children, and older visitors are not excluded from enjoying the area.
What key milestones have you achieved so far and what are your next steps?
Milestones achieved:
Identification of infrastructure needs through ongoing community engagement
Clear project scope defined covering parking, access, paths, viewpoint, hub and toilets
Site ownership and organisational capacity in place
Alignment identified with local and regional access and tourism priorities
Planning permission obtained in full
Community capacity for the project ascertained through volunteers now the rebuild of Boleskine House has completed
Outline costings for the development have been obtained
Next steps:
Secure funding to progress detailed design of visitor centre and toilets
Engage with local stakeholders, trail partners and access groups
Tender works and obtain funding to build
Procure contractors and begin phased delivery
The project could move to tender phase with contractors within 3 months of full funding being secured. The build time would be in the region of 4 months
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