Section Six Case Studies Get Ideas on Where to Visit – and See What Others Have Done
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section six Case Studies Get ideas on where to visit – and see what others have done Whether it’s protected wildlife, spectacular scenery, geological wonders, cultural heritage or adrenalin-packed activities, scotland’s national Parks and national nature Reserves have something amazing to offer. case studies Craigellachie NNR Loch Katrine Glenlivet Estate Inchcailloch (NNR) Glen Tanar NNR Endrick Mouth (NNR) Atholl Estate Balloch Castle Country Park CASE STUDy ICONS cairngorms national park Accommodation Parking All abilities access Picnic area Assistance dogs welcome Place of worship loch lomond & ThE trossachS AV Audio or visual guide Ranger base national park Boat trip Refreshments nearby Bus Shop Cycling Toilets Family friendly Train Historic structure Walking Horse riding Watersports Information centre Wildlife watching National Nature Reserve Key contacts UsefUl Websites If you would like to explore Visitor information opportunities in the National www.visitcairngorms.com Parks and NNRs, please contact us www.lochlomond-trossachs.org for further information. A number of National Nature Reserves Bus and train timetables (NNRs) can be found within the National Cairngorms National Park www.travelinescotland.com Parks. NNRs are magical places where you www.cairngorms.co.uk can experience the incredible sights and 01479 873535 Walking routes sounds of Scotland’s natural world. They [email protected] www.walkhighlands.co.uk www.walkingonwheels.org help protect a wide range of wildlife and landscapes, including many rare species and Loch Lomond & The Cycle routes habitats of international importance. Trossachs National Park www.sustrans.co.uk www.lochlomond-trossachs.org 01389 722600 Weather forecast [email protected] www.metoffice.gov.uk Scotland’s National Mountain weather Planning your visit Nature Reserves (NNRs) www.mwis.org.uk www.nnr-scotland.org.uk For help in planning your visit, please read 01463 725000 Scottish Disability Equality the following sections in the Resource Pack: [email protected] Forum – Access Panels Funding and transport www.sdef.org.uk Section 2.2 Practicalities For a large print Word 01786 446456 Safety and risk assessments version of these case studies, Section 2.3 Assessing and Managing Risk Scottish Outdoor please contact the relevant Contacts and packages Access Code National Park Authority above. Section 4 Contacts & Information www.outdooraccess-scotland.com Image copyrights: Dougie Barnett/SNH, John McFarlane/Forestry Commission Picture Library, 2011 Ian Watson Loch Katrine, Aberfoyle Loch Katrine has beautiful mountain, Stimulating the senses woodland and loch panoramas that have Being visually impaired can raise barriers to getting out and about in the countryside but a partnership between Visibility and Loch inspired artists, writers Lomond & The Trossachs National Park is tackling this head on. and musicians for By providing transport and National Park rangers to groups hundreds of years. from Visibility, geographical, financial and confidence barriers Within easy distance of were overcome. Visibility in turn delivered visual impairment Glasgow and Stirling, you awareness training to the Park rangers, giving them the skills and confidence to support visually impaired people accessing the can explore the shores National Park. on foot, bike or boat Throughout the summer months, the project staff led various walking and tandem and discover why this cycling events including ‘A Rob Roy Encounter’, Balmaha to Rowardennan and loch is the ‘birthplace of tandem trips to Firkin Point on west Loch Lomond and Lochan Spling near Aberfoyle. Scottish tourism’. Participants benefited from the vast knowledge of the rangers and learnt about the history, folklore, environment and wildlife. The abundance of sensory stimuli in the form of water, plants, rocks and trees enhanced the overall experience for everyone involved. These events proved to be a huge success and were greatly valued by visually "A fabulous impaired participants. Both Visibility and the National Park are planning on making day and great more of these events available in the future. location. The company and tandem ride " were amazing This project was organised by Visibility and Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority. If you would like to organise a similar activity aimed at encouraging people with Inspired? visual impairments to get out and about, please contact Visibility 0141 332 4632 Here's how... www.visibility.org.uk Image copyrights: Graham Burns/BTCV, John McFarlane/Forestry Commission Picture Library Top things to do Tyndrum Killin Lochearnhead Crianlarich Walking Queen Elizabeth Forest Park The trail along the north bank of Loch TH E T This forest park has a lot to offer ROS Katrine is tarmac and shared only SACHS visitors, including waymarked trails Arrochar with cyclists and a few local vehicles. Loch Katrine Callander There are some steep gradients and and wildlife watching. The David Lochgoilhead D Aberfoyle Marshall Lodge Visitor Centre at N motorised buggies can be hired O OM on-site, providing a safe opportunity Achray Forest has a restaurant, H L OC for those with limited mobility to see gift shop and accessible toilets. L David Marshall Lodge 01877 382258 this beautiful landscape. Balloch Wheelchair-accessible walk: www.forestry.gov.uk Inchmahome Priory www.walkingonwheels.org Steamship Set on an island in the Lake of Menteith, Cycling For over 100 years, the steamship Inchmahome is an Augustinian Cycling along Loch Katrine is a great way Sir Walter Scott has been ferrying monastery dating from 1238. The short to explore the area. You can even take people up and down Loch Katrine. ferry trip leaves Port of Menteith. your bike on the steamship and then cycle The steamship and the Lady of the Lake Visitors in wheelchairs must be able to back along the shore. A range of bikes is leave from the Trossachs Pier and get in and out of the ferry, and once on available for hire from the Trossachs Pier, booking is recommended. the island, accessibility is limited to the including bikes adapted for people with There is disabled access to the top grounds and parts of the church. disabilities. Hire a bike from one hour to deck but not to the toilet or café. Inchmahome Priory 01877 385294 a whole day. Trossachs Pier 01877 332000 Trossachs Pier 01877 332000 Fishing Waterfalls Fishing is by permit only, available at There are a number of stunning fishing tackle shops, some newsagents waterfalls in the area. The short or individual proprietors for salmon accessible Waterfall Trail at David and sea trout. The Lake of Menteith Staying longer? Marshall Lodge provides magnificent Fishery provides boats suitable for all Explore nearby: views of the impressive Little Fawn abilities, allowing wheelchair users to Waterfall. The Bracklinn Falls at • Inchcailloch island (NNR) participate in fishing and boating. The Callander are spectacular and can be • Glen Finglas Geisher Pool outside Callander has a reached by a short path from the town platform suitable for disabled anglers. • Strathyre Forest - keep your eyes open for red squirrels! Lake of Menteith Fishery 01877 385664 • Flanders Moss NNR How to get here Access for all Further information Nearest train station is Stirling (37 miles) The Trossachs Pier, from where the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs ScotRail 08457 550033 steamship Sir Walter Scott leaves, has National Park Authority disabled parking, access and toilets. www.lochlomond-trossachs.org National and local bus services stop Motorised buggies are available for [email protected] at Callander (25 miles) and hire. 01389 722600 Aberfoyle (15 miles) Traveline Scotland 0871 200 2233 National Park Ranger Service Accommodation 01389 722600 Trossachs Demand Responsive A range of accommodation is available Transport service is like a taxi service in nearby Brig O’Turk, Callander and Visitor Centres but at public transport fares. All Aberfoyle. Loch Katrine 01877 376799 journeys must be pre-booked. Aberfoyle 01877 382352 Aberfoyle Coaches 0844 567 5670 Eating Trossachs Discovery Centre There is a café at the Trossachs Pier 08707 200604 and restaurants in Callander and Scotland’s National Nature Reserves Aberfoyle. www.nnr-scotland.org.uk Inchcailloch, Loch Lomond NNR AV Steeped in history, Inchcailloch is a peaceful Role models wooded island on Loch Encouraging young adults from minority ethnic Lomond that is reached communities to get involved in the outdoors can be difficult when there are few role models. by a short ferry trip To address this, Backbone (an outdoor training from Balmaha. The organisation) created a Community Leadership Project island is in the Loch to develop minority ethnic role models with the skills and confidence to lead their Lomond National communities in outdoor and environmental activities. Nature Reserve and As part of their training, a group of future leaders undertook an open canoe is on the Highland expedition to Inchcailloch. They learned how important water is and why it should be conserved and managed for future generations. The trip was a real eye-opening Boundary Fault Line. experience – some participants came from backgrounds where clean drinking water is difficult to find and others from backgrounds where water is taken for granted. The time on Inchcailloch allowed the group to interact and learn about each other and the outdoors in a positive, inspiring way. It also demonstrated that the outdoors is a powerful classroom for developing social and educational experiences. "It has The group completed the project feeling more knowledgeable and confident that shown me how they would be able to entice and excite people from their own communities to to look after engage more in the countryside. Upon successful completion, participants receive groups with more recognised national awards and are qualified to lead a group in a range of outdoor professionalism and activities. made me more aware of the" outdoors This project was organised by Backbone and Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, with funding from Scottish Natural Heritage and Rank Foundation. Inspired? If you would like to take part in a similar project, please contact Backbone Here's how..