Littlehouse Media

Finance and Economy Secretary, Kate Forbes, opens car park and off-grid toilets at Skye’s Iconic Fairy Pools

A community and environmental charity-led project on Skye that has helped boost tourism to the famed Fairy Pools, one of Scotland’s most popular and remote visitor attractions near Glenbrittle, was formally opened today (12 July 2021) by Finance and Economy Secretary Kate Forbes.

Ms Forbes visited the site which has benefited from an £800,000 investment in the development of a 140-space car park and off-grid toilet block.

The project was spearheaded by Minginish Community Hall Association (MCHA), the local community volunteer organisation, the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland (OATS), Scotland’s leading environmental charity promoting sustainable public access, and the Highland Council Development and Infrastructure Service; with funding from LEADER, Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Scottish Government, the Scottish Land Fund, and additional financial support from both OATS and MCHA.

The new facilities mean that the site can now safely accommodate 200,000 visitors a year.

Ms Forbes said: “I’m delighted that we have been able to support the improvements that have been made to the infrastructure at the Fairy Pools, improving the facilities at one of our most iconic tourist destinations.

“The Scottish Government are supporting our rural communities as much as possible to cope with the increased numbers looking to enjoy Scotland’s countryside, especially as we encourage people to staycation this year.

“Scotland has world-leading legislation giving people rights to access our countryside, but it’s important that these are exercised responsibly and with respect for others, for wildlife and for the land itself. Investing in visitor management and supporting our rural communities is a crucial part of sustainable tourism growth.”

An unsustainable 82,000 people visited the Fairy Pools in 2015, with more than 180,000 people recorded in 2019. The narrow single-track access road was regularly blocked with parked cars, verges were damaged and both local residents, businesses and emergency services had to deal with significant disruption. The lack of infrastructure and onsite facilities also led to path and habitat degradation and litter and waste management issues.

MCHA used the Community Asset Transfer scheme to acquire the land from Forestry and Land Scotland. The car park site was then leased to OATS, who had the experience, the expertise, and the capacity to deliver the scheme and handle the liabilities, for a 20-year period on condition that they construct, operate, and maintain the car park and toilets.

Despite a number of construction challenges, stemming from the site’s remote location, ground conditions, and constantly increasing visitor numbers, the new facilities have been fully operational since October 2020.

Dougie Baird, Chief Executive of the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland, said: “There is a long-term issue of lack of basic infrastructure at popular remote destinations throughout Scotland. The effects can be far-reaching with disruption to community and business and damage to the very special locations that people wish to see. 

“The hugely successful landlord/tenant collaboration forged between MCHA and OATS is the perfect model to demonstrate how effective third-sector partnerships can address these issues. As well as actively protecting important and fragile assets and ensuring visitors enjoy a positive experience, the project generates revenue that will continue to provide funds for local community objectives and local and national environmental conservation. The legacy will be significant.

“It has only been possible with the provision of government grants to provide a platform to raise the rest of the funds required, and I am sure this will offer visitors a vastly improved experience whilst providing sustainability to the management of the site.”

Since opening with the first 100 parking spaces in January 2019, and despite closing for Covid-19 lockdowns, the car park has already generated enough revenue to pay for two full-time and eight casual support staff, the rent, PPE equipment, and further site infrastructure development and admin costs. This has included the addition of a defibrillator on site.   The operating surplus is being re-invested as seed-corn funding for access and conservation work, including for the new Skye Iconic Sites Project, as well as funding for community benefit projects.

Ends

Media contact:

For images and interview requests please contact Paddy Cuthbert

Paddy Cuthbert | Littlehouse Media | E: [email protected] | M: +44 (0)7913 951717

Additional Quotes here:

Graham Campbell, Chair, MCHA

“At the outset, our priority was to help address the disruption the increase in visitors was having on local residents through congestion and vehicles parking on verges, often causing blockages.  It wasn’t feasible for us to do this on our own.  Working with OATS and with the support of Highland Council, HIE, Forestry Land Scotland and our MSP, the issues for local residents have been alleviated, the bonus being the much-improved visitor experience, the creation of local employment, and an income stream for MCHA that is allowing us to support other Minginish community projects.”

Ian Moffett, Chair, OATS

“Thanks to all the funders and MCHA who made the Fairy Pools project possible. We believe the resulting product is a credit to us, the community, and to the lenders.  This is an excellent model of how community and charity partnerships can turn a challenge into an opportunity and gives visitors the quality, Covid – safe, experience they should be entitled to expect.

“Providing Off-Grid facilities in the remoter parts of Scotland is always tricky and £420,000 was spent on our toilets. Sounds a lot, but we must protect our unique natural environment with first-class waste treatment. At just over a couple of pounds for each of the Fairy Pool’s 200,000 annual visitors we think the new toilets are a good deal for them, for future site visitors, and for Skye’s precious ecology.  OATS are in discussions elsewhere in Scotland to resolve similar problems.”

Alaistar Nicolson, Head of Strengthening Communities at Highlands and Islands Enterprise Lochaber, Skye and Wester Ross team
“We are really pleased to have supported infrastructure work at local visitor attractions such as Fairy Pools. This is a fantastic development, which reduces congestion and improves safety for the community as well for visitors.”

Councillor John Finlayson, Chair of Highland Council’s Education Committee

“I am delighted to see the official opening of the Fairy Pools car park and toilets take place, which again demonstrates the importance of partnership working involving people at the heart of a community and also stakeholders from other agencies.

MCHA should be congratulated on their vision for this important project supported by OATS, The Highland Council, HIE, and the Scottish Government.  I already know from feedback I have received both locally and from visitors to Skye, how well used and valuable this facility is. The ethos of partnership working that drove this project is what we want to see as the cornerstone of the developing Investment and Infrastructure Plan for Skye and Raasay, and I would like to congratulate all stakeholders for what has been achieved at The Fairy Pools.”

Sandra Reid, Visitor Service Ranger, Forestry Land Scotland
“This particular project was the first asset transfer under Land Reform Legislation and it is a great example of how local communities across Scotland are seeing and pursuing opportunities through our Community Asset Transfer Scheme. It’s a great way to marry up focused, local knowledge and ambition with the resources needed to help communities put their drive and talents to work to deliver economic, social and environmental benefits.”

Chris Taylor, Regional Leadership Director at VisitScotland

“This is a fantastic example of the collaborative effort that is taking place across Skye and the Highlands to improve facilities and ensure tourism can continue to benefit both visitors and communities whilst protecting our natural environment.

“Over the last three years, the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund has played an important role in improving the visitor experience, be it car parking, toilets or footpaths, as we want people to have a must visit-must return experience.

“We all need to play our part in being responsible visitors and improvement works like these are crucial to ensuring our visitor destinations remain sustainable for years to come.”

Dave Till, Chair, SkyeConnect

“The official opening of the Fairy Pools car park and toilet facility is the culmination of a lot of work and creative fund-raising by a range of organisations.  SkyeConnect is committed to continuing to develop the island’s infrastructure in line with Skye’s ever-increasing popularity. We recognise that we have a duty to protect our unique environment and develop tourism in a sustainable manner that minimises the impact on the resident population. We need more innovative schemes like this at the other popular tourist hotspots, but today is a day to celebrate what can be achieved when public and private sector organisations, charities, and community interest companies (CIC’s like SkyeConnect) work together.”

Notes to Editors:

  1. The Fairy Pools’ rapid rise in popularity with UK and international visitors in recent years resulted in the existing limited car parking (30 spaces) at the site being frequently overwhelmed.
  2. In 2015 the Highland Council Development and Infrastructure Service commissioned a study by Bryden Associates to explore options for alternative parking provision at the trailhead.  The study concluded the best option was for the community to acquire the land, extend the existing car park and build public toilets. 
  3. From the outset Minginish Community Hall Association (MCHA), the local community volunteer organisation, were driven to solve the congestion issues for both residents and local businesses. They were also keen to reduce the environmental impact, generate local employment, and create a better experience for those visiting the Fairy Pools. 
  4. MCHA used the Community Asset Transfer scheme to acquire the land from Forestry and Land Scotland, with funding from the Scottish Land Fund, the first asset transfer under Land Reform Legislation.
  5. They turned to the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland (OATS), Scotland’s leading environmental charity promoting sustainable public access, who had the experience, the expertise and the capacity to deliver the scheme and handle the liabilities. 
  6. OATS and MCHA worked together to progress fundraising for the build.  They raised £375,597 for the car park, phase one of the project.  The major contribution for this came from LEADER (£200,000), Highland Council (£100,000), and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (£50,000), with support from OATS (£20,708) and MCHA (£4,889).  The challenges of building an off-grid sewage system with a processing tank that could manage the growing visitor numbers required a substantial budget of £418,467.  OATS raised the money with funding from the Scottish Government (£341,140), supplemented by their own funds (£77,327).
  7. The car park has required further infrastructure development including tarmacing, fencing, and line painting. OATS and MCHA had to raise a further £26,863, with £10,198 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise awarded to MCHA, with OATS contributing a further £16,665.
  8. Skye’s Iconic Sites Project will help to address the lack of tourist infrastructure and co-ordinated interpretation on the Isle of Skye, making improvements to the quality of the visitor experience for a wider and more inclusive range of people at three of its most iconic and busiest sites – the Old Man of Storr, the Quiraing and the Fairy Pools.  This will be achieved through the development of access infrastructure – paths, bridges, and viewpoints; path and habitat restoration and rehabilitation; and a programme of co-ordinated interpretation through information points and signage, together with promotion, marketing and joined-up thinking within the wider context of Skye as a visitor destination.

The Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland (OATS) – is an environmental charity promoting sustainable public access throughout Scotland and innovates, develops, builds and repairs paths and trailhead facilities and fixes mountain habitats.

Minginish Community Hall Association (MCHA)Minginish Community Hall Association is a registered charity originally set up to build a new community hall for the remote rural area of Minginish on the Isle of Skye. It is now involved in wider community-led work in the area and enables other projects that deliver community benefit.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is an economic and community development agency implementing Scotland’s Economic Strategy across a region which covers more than half the country. With around 300 staff, HIE supports hundreds of client businesses and social enterprises; strengthens communities, particularly in fragile areas; develops growth sectors, and invests in infrastructure to create a more competitive and low carbon region.
Or follow us on social media: Twitter : Facebook : Linkedin : Youtube  

You Might Also Like

Celebrating 90 years of Scottish hostelling

Campaign to save Scotland’s mountain paths raises over £218,000 in first year

Popular Youth Hostel on Loch Lomond side re-opens after major upgrade

Discover Scotland’s ‘Braw Buildings’ with Hostelling Scotland

Young people invited to collaborate in Muckin’ good summer festivals

Nevis Range announces Commencal as new global gravity sports partner

New European partnership to upskill adventure tourism in five countries

Lochaber Chamber calls for urgent action to address the critical public transport infrastructure crisis

Run Scotland in two days with the new Ultra Tour of Arran

Highland entrepreneurial masterclass series looking to foster growth…

Nevis Range is making it snow all season long!

The ultimate runners’ sightseeing tour of Edinburgh returns

Nevis Range partner with Disability Snowsport UK for Winter 18/19

Glen Nevis Youth Hostel re-opens after major redevelopment project

Media Advisory – Images – The Ultra Tour of Edinburgh

Media Advisory – UK’s highest Shinty match to promote tourism in Lochaber

Fort William – the perfect cruise destination

International partnership benefits Nevis Range snowsports enthusiasts

SYHA appoints Lois Marshall as Youth & Volunteer Engagement Manager

SYHA Hostelling Scotland assist in a Recovery Version

Visit Moray Speyside launches their biggest ever UK marketing campaign

Route announcement confirmed for HSBC City Ride in Edinburgh

‘Death Zone’ mountaineer, Nirmal Purja, to headline Fort William Mountain Festival 2020

Dr Liz Cameron, Scotland’s voice of business, to headline women’s networking lunch

Sporting legend Gavin Hastings to inspire Lochaber at Ideas Week 2017

New Beinn a’ Ghlo trailhead car park gives back to the mountains

Lochaber Ideas Week returns to Fort William after a two-year covid hiatus

‘A Meeting of Minds’ – An online event to celebrate Scotland’s aquaculture sector

Media Statement – Development of Stac Pollaidh Car Park, Coigach, Sutherland

Safety and accessibility first for newly opened Charter Chest Path, Braemar

Hot water on tap for Loch Ossian Youth Hostel

Lochaber Ideas Week programme revealed

Lochaber’s ‘Connect to Your Adventure’ digital marketing campaign, a huge success

People are at the heart of SYHA Hostelling Scotland!

‘Connect To Your Adventure!’ – big success in just 7 weeks

Summer Youth Hostel Returns to Glasgow

SYHA opens new summer youth hostel in Edinburgh

The new Pentland Trail Centre – The future for Edinburgh biking

Haggis from Scotland’s first free-range Haggis farm goes on sale in Lochaber

Scottish Climbing Instructor, Tim Miller, wins Youth Mountain Culture Award

SYHA partners with Ayrshire College for valuable volunteer experience

Monster Meets Mountain – Nevis Range joins forces with the Cobbs Group

The Cream of Enduro will rise to the top at Comrie Croft

ITV4 to screen every minute of OVO Energy Tour of Britain live

Nevis Range and Trek renew commercial partnership for 2019/20

Frazer Coupland appointed Chair of The Highland Tourism Partnership

£100,000 awarded to innovative Scottish mountain project

Loch Ossian and Torridon Youth Hostels shortlisted in TGO Reader Awards

An appetite for adventure in the North West Highlands

Hostelling Scotland, a new brand identity unveiled

Media Advisory – 500 runners to tame Edinburgh with the inaugural Ultra Tour

Nevis Range looks forward to reopening in July

Nevis Range and Trek renew commercial partnership for 2020/21

Videos highlight the benefits of apprenticeships in the West Highlands

New hydro scheme powers Scottish mountain resort

Mountain Bike pros flock to Perthshire for the UK’s first Team Mountain Bike Enduro

The UK’s first waymarked gravel cycling trails opened near Aberfoyle

Paul Merton Visits SYHA’s Loch Ossian Hostel – Paul Merton’s Secret Stations

Top award for World renowned Scottish landscape photographer, Colin Prior

POC headline sponsor for Scottish Enduro Series for sixth year

New look Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel, new era of hostelling in the Capital

Fort William Mountain Festival 2024 – Come and discover your adventure

Aberfoyle to host new endurance gravel cycling event and festival

300 Dutch adventurers to run, bike and kayak across Scotland

Youth development key to Edinburgh Central’s 10th Anniversary

Enduro riders, prepare yourselves for a Highland Clan battle!

Scran Café – Youth powered café launched by Scran Academy

Hostelling Scotland begins phased opening of Youth Hostel network

Keith Legge, CEO of SYHA Hostelling Scotland, steps down after 13 years

Millburn Academy ensures a warm welcome to Inverness Youth Hostel

Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland wins two rural industry awards

Inspirational volunteer, Steph McKenna, wins Youth Mountain Award

Outdoor Capital Activities and Attractions Expo open for tourism business

Loch Ossian and Glencoe Youth Hostels, big winners in TGO Reader Awards 2024

Edinburgh’s Electric Cycle Company is being supercharged

Fort William has all the Mòd cons

‘A Meeting of Minds 2’ celebrates innovation in Scotland’s aquaculture sector

It’s Up to Us…to step up and save our mountain paths

Midlothian ‘zero carbon’ office development seeks Planning in Principle

VisitScotland’s Lord Thurso to deliver The Charles Kennedy Memorial Lecture

Margo Paterson appointed as CEO of SYHA Hostelling Scotland

Nevis Range and Trek announce a partnership for 2018/19

Nevis Range moving forward with interim CEO Rod Pashley

Go Beyond – Fort William Mountain Festival 2025 programme launched

‘What would Mary do?’ at the Fort William Mountain Festival

Lochaber Tourism Summit 2019, a must-attend event for Highland tourism businesses

An Teallach wins €60,000 European Outdoor Conservation Association grant

Are you hard enough to take on The Double Stalker?

Scran Academy reach 100,000 essential meals delivery milestone

A muckin’ great Audax, perfect for Cream o’ the Croft road cyclists

Fort William Mountain Festival 2021 goes Covid-19 safe

Discover Your Adventure – Fort William Mountain Festival 2023 programme announced

Start your Highland biking adventure at the new Nevis Range Bike School

Run day and night at the new Tweed Valley Trail Run

Coast to Coast – run, bike ride and kayak 105 miles across Scotland

Gold and Silver gongs for Torridon and Loch Ossian Youth Hostels in TGO Reader Awards

Noel Williams wins 2019 Scottish Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture

Expert of mountain rescue, ‘Heavy’ Whalley, wins top mountain festival award

Danny MacAskill launches video, ‘Danny Daycare’. Best ‘uncle’ ever?

Two Scottish youth hostels celebrate landmark anniversaries

Rob Cochrane wins 2019 Scottish Youth Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture

Get your adventure challenge on with Project: Explore

Video series to showcase apprenticeships in the West Highlands launched

The Ultra Tour of Arran, a big draw for international adventure tourists

Entries open for SKI-AN-DURO, Scotland’s new ski and mountain bike Enduro

SYHA’s Glasgow Metro youth hostel awarded 3 stars by VisitScotland

Developing for the future at Nevis Range!

Scottish Enduro Series confirms POC as headline sponsor for fifth year

Lochaber Chamber of Commerce invite Scottish Businesses to Join Trade Missions to Orange County and Nova Scotia

Planning on holidaying at home? Give hostelling a go!

One Lochaber Leadership Programme to be launched at Lochaber Ideas Week

Unique Mountain Culture Award goes to novice search and rescue dog teams

Former Farrier, Matthew Jackson, appointed Chair of DYW West Highland

SKI-AN-DURO, a new ski and mountain bike Enduro for Scotland

Inverness Youth Hostel gets a fresh new look

Chris O’Brien appointed Destination Manager for the Outdoor Capital of the UK

Business Community Programme launched for Lochaber Ideas Week 2018

OATS in search of a Fairy Pool of staff

Hostelling Scotland’s network opens for 2023. Give hostelling a go!

Scran Academy on ‘foodwill’ tour of Edinburgh

#myoutdoorcapital – OCUK to put visitors firmly in the frame

New Lochaber website aiming high

Lochaber’s Nevis Range becomes an accredited Living Wage employer

Big Biking October – two International bike events for the Outdoor Capital

Nevis Range, Scotland’s highest snowsports destination, open for business

Edinburgh’s Electric Cycle Company has been supercharged

Figurehead environmental campaigner, Dave Morris, wins top mountain award

Sustainable active travel and food tourism at the heart of new adventure film

Gravelfoyle – Gravel Cycling at the heart of Aberfoyle’s new tourism brand

Run Scotland on The Ultra Tour of Arran

Muckmedden Events secure vital funding for UK’s first Team Mountain Bike Enduro

Fort William Mountain Festival back to a live, multi-venue event in 2022

SYHA Hostelling Scotland – building Scottish hostelling for the future

Changing times at Nevis Range Mountain Experience!

Immerse yourself in Lochaber Ideas Week 2019

Epic Halloween tale of ‘Ned vs Monster’ in the Outdoor Capital

Three female adventurers to take on epic 1936 cycling trip

Call for nominations to join Hostelling Scotland’s Board of Trustees

Hostelling Scotland fully open for business after two years

Hostelling Scotland to temporarily close Youth Hostel network

OCUK unveil their new branded gondola at Nevis Range

Jura, the Border Collie, trains to become the first Ski Patrol rescue dog at Nevis Range

Nevis Range team up with Endura

Go Swim Loch Lomond – a new open water event for Scotland

Nevis Range to turn back the clock to 1989 to celebrate 30 years of adventure

Edinburgh’s Electric Cycle Company sees 80% rise in Lockdown sales

Hostelling Scotland opens four summer youth hostels in 2018

Chris O’Brien, MD of Nevis Range, shortlisted for Business Leader of The Year

Becoming a Conscious Host: Carbon Neutrality and Beyond

Lochaber Chamber of Commerce calls for urgent action by Scottish and UK Governments on major traffic congestion in Fort William

Crieff antique dealer unearths rare Rolex ‘MilSub’ dive watch worth £120,000

SYHA collaborates with Glasgow Caledonian University

Lochaber Tourism Day with Cal Mac – Debate, Engage, Network

Lochaber community is pulling together to give Nevis Range a lift after lockdown!

National Funding Boost for Cream o’ the Croft and The Eliminator