Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 743 Mull long distance route: A socio-economic study COMMISSIONED REPORT Commissioned Report No. 743 Mull long distance route: A socio-economic study For further information on this report please contact: Colin MacFarlane Scottish Natural Heritage Cameron House Oban ARGYLL PA34 4AE Telephone: 01546 603611 E-mail:
[email protected] This report should be quoted as: Wood-Gee, V. 2014. Mull long distance route: A socio-economic study. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 743. This report, or any part of it, should not be reproduced without the permission of Scottish Natural Heritage. This permission will not be withheld unreasonably. The views expressed by the author(s) of this report should not be taken as the views and policies of Scottish Natural Heritage. © Scottish Natural Heritage 2014. COMMISSIONED REPORT Summary Mull long distance route: A socio-economic study Commissioned Report No: 743 Project No: 14827 Contractor: Vyv Wood-Gee, Countryside Management Consultant Year of publication: 2014 Keywords Long distance route; pilgrimage; socio-economic; Mull; Iona. Background The idea of developing a long distance route (LDR) across the Ross of Mull has been discussed for many years, and was identified as a priority in the 2011 Mull and Iona Community Plan. The main drivers behind the proposal are economic development through tourism and improving access opportunities for local people. Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT) set up a steering group to explore the project’s feasibility. As part of their advisory role to the steering group, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) commissioned this socio- economic study to identify in more detail the potential social, health and economic benefits that route development might bring for route users and local communities.