TOURISM Case studies Clockwise from main image: Dunvegan Castle & Gardens; Dunvegan Castle entrance hall; the castle in winter; the castle dining room; Skye high view to the Cuillin mountains Hugh MacLeod took over responsibility for the family’s estate on Skye, including Dunvegan Castle and Gardens, in 2008. Here, he outlines the estate’s success, gives his views on the increasing popularity of the island and highlights the challenges that remain to be met ver the past 20 years, recognised across the world and this success Annually, the estate contributes an average local banking facilities. Hugh believes this major improvements to widen some visitor numbers to has its roots in the 1950s when a few notable of £690,000 to the Skye economy, and since is a concern for local people and businesses, sections, increase and enlarge the number Dunvegan Castle & local families, including Hugh MacLeod’s, 2008, it has contributed in excess of £5.2m but part of the inextricable move away from a of passing places to accommodate the Gardens have followed started Skye Week to put Skye on the tourist to the Skye economy and more than £9m to high-street presence to online platforms. Since 2008, the estate growing popularity of motorhomes and a peak and trough map, create more jobs for local people and Scotland’s economy.” “Banks have closed more local branches higher traffic volumes we receive in peak pattern. Estate Director arrest the declining population. As Hugh outlined, delivering a gold and earlier this year applied a cap on our has contributed in excess season,” said Hugh. Hugh Macleod believes Dame Flora, the 28th Chief, was one standard service to visitors involves a number deposits with the mobile banking van. This of £5.2m to the Skye He recognises that the Highland Council this reflects external pioneer who travelled the world to encourage of challenges: “The estate’s mission is to forced us to employ G4S, at significant is a well-meaning, if hamstrung, partner to geopolitical and economic factors, from her clan diaspora to return to their roots and preserve the heritage of the Macleod Estate by additional cost, to collect deposits. The economy and more than Skye’s tourism industry. currency fluctuations to foreign wars that find out more about their shared ancestry. being commercially successful in all we do to reduction in banking services has made life “With limited resources, the council does O more difficult for everyone who lives in the £9m to Scotland’s economy what it can, but badly needed infrastructure have reduced the number of safe international More recently, the island’s renown has been enable continuous reinvestment and develop tourism destinations. fuelled by print and social media coverage and share Dunvegan Castle & Gardens’ unique Highlands and Islands.” investment for public transport, roads, parking He said: “In 1997, we welcomed around and the marketing efforts of local businesses, history with our visitors. Equally important is the maintenance of and WC facilities at Skye’s numerous natural 130,000 visitors, which fell to a low of 89,000 destination management organisations and “Our remote island location is a challenging good transport links. Despite the bridge to the beauty spots takes too long to happen, if at all,” in 2008 when I assumed responsibility for the VisitScotland. High-profile feature films, TV place to run a business from a logistical and mainland, the ferries at Glenelg and Mallaig commented Hugh. estate. However, we rebranded and introduced series and music videos have also boosted staffing point of view, especially when it is continue to provide a more traditional ‘over transit would mean more time spent enjoying He emphasised that a more joined-up an effective marketing strategy along with visitor numbers. only commercially viable for us to be open the sea to Skye’ route for visitors, and are the island and its unique offerings, which approach between the public and private major capital investments to upgrade visitor Dunvegan Castle & Gardens, which is at the between Easter and mid-October. critically important to the local businesses and would, in turn, boost the local economy.” sectors is needed if Skye’s success is not to facilities and transform the visitor experience. heart of the MacLeod Estate on Skye, is vital “However, Skye’s remoteness is part of communities based in Sleat in southern Skye. Closer to the ground, though they are be torpedoed by a lack of investment and This resulted in us being awarded a 5* grading to the island’s economy. As the ancestral home its USP and we do our best to capitalise on Hugh is in no doubt that scheduled flights part of Skye’s charms, the island’s remaining clear vision. by VisitScotland last year, during which we of the Chiefs of clan MacLeod for 800 years, it this during the season in order to reinvest from Edinburgh and Glasgow would be a boon single-track roads may not be fit for the 21st Despite any challenges, Hugh remains attracted a record-breaking 168,000 visitors.” is a major heritage attraction and key driver of the proceeds and further enhance the visitor to Skye’s economy. He said: “Skye remains century. Hugh acknowledges improvements optimistic. He said: “Having been Over the past four years, visitor numbers economic growth. experience. The secret of our gold standard the missing link in the Highland and Islands’ of the 1970s and 1980s, when many main A continuously inhabited by my family for 800 to Skye in general have grown steadily. Hugh Hugh said: “Last year, Dunvegan was service is the estate team’s hard work and chain of airports and the MacLeod Estate has and trunk roads replaced single-track roads. years, the clan MacLeod motto is ‘Hold Fast’. added: “The natural beauty and diversity of ranked 18th out of the Top 20 Paid Attractions commitment to keep the show on the road and long been an active supporter of Skye’s lobby However, he said the pressure on the council’s “I hope that in 2037, Dunvegan Castle and the island has captured people’s imagination in Scotland. We are one of the island’s ‘hold fast’, despite the numerous challenges of group Fly Skye [www.facebook.com/FlySkye. capital budget has led to a lack of regular road the MacLeod Estate will continue to Hold Fast and they are sharing their experiences in largest private sector employers with about living and working here.” co.uk] maintenance and the ‘Pothole of the Week’, a to its vision of becoming an even larger private increasing numbers on social media and by 50 employees, 17 of whom are permanent. Like other rural areas of Scotland, Skye “Many people who live and work here weekly spot in the West Highland Free Press. sector business offering greater employment word of mouth.” Our total capital expenditure and repairs has to cope with changing infrastructure desperately need flight links to Edinburgh and “Single-track roads will always be a opportunities to local people in what has been The Isle of Skye has become a brand from 2009 to April 2017 was £2.98 million. and services. One example is a reduction in Glasgow, as do our visitors. The time saved in constant feature of Skye, but there must be a fragile economic area historically.” 42 | Winter 2017 Winter 2017 | 43.