Access and Transport Baseline Report 2019 Produced as part of the Wester Ross Destination Development Plan preliminary research Context Upwards of an estimated c.100,000 tourists visit Wester Ross each year, sustaining local communities through their input to the local economy and tourism accounts for 35% of employment[1]. However, in the current climate (Summer 2019) there are concerns that a rise in tourism of up to 27% (estimate[2]) over the past few years may not be sustainable. Although a different perspective is that this has followed a deep recession in the tourism industry and visitor numbers have yet to return to the high levels enjoyed during the 1990s, the current situation is exacerbated by Local Authority and Public Agency budget cuts which have resulted in plans to close public toilets and a deterioration in road quality. In addition, the type of visitor has changed, Wester Ross is welcoming large amounts of campervans which require waste disposal facilities which are not yet in place. Local people are reporting over-flowing carparks and bins, increasing litter pollution and irresponsible behaviour. It is not unusual for local residents to cite increased litter as a negative aspect of tourism[3] and this together with other perceived negative impacts can become challenging to tourism development as the host community begin to view visitors less than favourably. Therefore, the World Tourism Organisation advises regions to adopt a model for tourism management which considers the social as well as economical and environmental impacts of tourism[4]. Mass tourism is not going away[5]. But currently, there is no hard-empirical evidence on visitor numbers, expectations and behaviour or condition of assets in Wester Ross which would allow communities, businesses, local authorities and public agencies to plan proactively. Tourism management in Wester Ross appears to be reactive whereas successful sustainable tourism must involve proactive planning and joint working. Without a strategic approach which considers all aspects of the visitor experience (Figure 1), the impact on the environment, publicly owned assets and cultural heritage could eventually damage economic development and quality of life and so careful attention must be paid to understand these issues more thoroughly. Through the Sustainable Heritage Areas; Partnerships for Ecotourism project, the Wester Ross Biosphere has been awarded funds from the EU Northern Periphery and Arctic Program to help create a more sustainable tourism environment in Wester Ross. Through the development of the project we have identified that there is a case for instigating a Destination Management Plan partnership to create a sustainable tourism culture in Wester Ross. Background Public sector representatives met in January 2019 to discuss the Wester Ross Biosphere’s proposal to produce a DMP that identifies the roles of the different stakeholders (involved in the visitor experience), sets out clear actions and shows where resources are required or available already either by existing commitments or by moving them around. The proposed DMP approach was enthusiastically received, particularly in terms of its call for pooling resources, sharing responsibilities and genuine collaboration with communities and businesses. Agreement was made between Visit Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Highland Council to take an active role: “Coordinating and supporting the management of the aspects of Wester Ross which contribute to a visitor’s experience, taking account of the needs of visitors, local residents, businesses and the environment to ensure future sustainability”. The Destination Management Plan should be based on a sound knowledge and assessment of all the features of Wester Ross that relate to the visitor economy. Access and transport to and within Wester Ross is a fundamental part of the visitor experience and so auditing and understanding the current situation and development plans is essential to planning the development of the region. The purpose of this report is to gather and contribute evidence to the DMP on the current status of Access and Transport (including Road, rail, boat, air links to and within the destination and public and private transport providers) in Wester Ross and the opportunities and challenges it presents. This will help inform the identification of management objectives and priorities to achieve the following outcomes and aims: Outcomes This report will directly contribute to the two main outcomes identified of the Destination Management Plan for Wester Ross: #1: Wester Ross is being managed as a Sustainable Tourism Destination by a stakeholder partnership #2: There is a culture in Wester Ross of welcoming visitors and a positive vibe about future tourism Aims Five priority areas have been identified during the initial set up phase; 1) Creating an identity and sense of place in Wester Ross 2) Community Ownership/Buy-in/Empowerment 3) A better-defined destination 4) Get a ‘better idea’ of carrying capacity 5) Business Engagement Methodology Audits of: Roads & Paths, as well as Rail, Bus, Ferry and Air links Road and path data were gathered through desktop research, referring to catalogued roads under the care of BEAR Scotland and Highland Council. Transport links were determined through scheduling timetables fond widely online and in print. [1] Wester Ross Biosphere Reserve Application Dossier 2015 and conversations with Visit Wester Ross [2] North Coast 500 Economic Baseline Study 2017, University of Glasgow & Highlands and Island Enterprise [3] E.g. Rathlin Island Sustainable Tourism Strategy (2005) Tourism Development International/Judith A Annett Countryside Consultancy page 54 [4] World Tourism Organisation’s definition of sustainable tourism: www.sdt.unwto.org/content/about-us- 5 (accessed September 2018) [5] Sampson, J & Danelutti, C. (2018) Destimed and MEET (The Mediterranean experience of ecotourism): A regional approach to developing, managing and promoting ecotourism in protected areas. Presented to 8th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks, Madonna di Campiglio, September 2018. Definitions Trunk Road: The trunk road and motorway network connects Scotland's major cities, towns, airports and ports enabling the movement of people, goods and services. A87: Runs west from its junction with the A82 Invergarry, along the north shores of Loch Garry and Loch Cluanie, then down through Glen Shiel and along Loch Duich to Kyle of Lochalsh before crossing the Skye Bridge. A835: Runs west from Tore to Garve Junction (to A832) where it turns northwest to Ullapool, passing through Dirrie More, a high and wide mountain pass Single Track Road: Single Track Access Roads are predominantly constructed within the rural environment, where low traffic flows permit a reduced carriageway width. Adopted Road: Roads maintained by Highland Council; they do not include private roads or the main roads that connect major cities (trunk roads). The adopted road will extend to boundary fences or walls or in open ground to a distance of 3 metres from the edge of the surfaced carriageway or passing place, or to the top of the slope in cutting or the bottom of slope in embankment, whichever distance is greatest. A832 (b): Commencing at its junction with the A835 (Tore to Ullapool) Trunk Road west of Garve, extending in a generally westerly direction via Achnasheen, then in a north westerly direction to Gairloch, in a northerly direction via Poolewe and Laide, then in a general south easterly direction via Dundonnell to its junction with the A835 (Tore to Ullapool) Trunk Road at Braemore Junction a distance of 86.86 miles or thereby. A835: Commencing in Ullapool at its junction with the A835T (Tore - Ullapool Road), extending in a north westerly direction to Ardmair, thereafter in a north easterly direction via Strath Canaird, Drumrunie and Knockan to its junction with the A837 (Invershin - Lochinver Road) at Ledmore, a distance of 17.5 miles or thereby. A890: Commencing at its junction with the A87 (Invergarry - Moriston Bridge - Kyle of Lochalsh) Trunk Road east of Auchtertyre, extending in a general northerly and north easterly direction to its junction with the A832 (Gorstan - Achnasheen - Gairloch) Road at Achnasheen Roundabout, a distance of 32 miles 280 linear yards or thereby. A896: Commencing at its junction with the A890 (Auchtertyre to Achnasheen) Road at Strathcarron Junction, east of Lochcarron, a double and single track road extending in a general west, thence north thence easterly direction via, Lochcarron, Sheildaig and Torridon to its junction with the A832 (Gorstan – Gairloch – Braemore Junction) Road at Kinlochewe, a distance of 34 miles 704 yards or thereby. B8021: Commencing at its junction with the Gorston – Achnasheen – Gairloch – Braemore (A832) road at Achtercairn , extending in a westerly direction through Strath village to Sand farm and in a northwesterly and northerly direction to Melvaig to where it conjoins the unadopted road to the lighthouse a distance of 16.415km (10 miles 352 yards) or thereby. B8056: Commencing at its junction with the Gorston – Achnasheen – Gairloch – Braemore (A832)road at Kerrysdale Bridge, extending in a south westerly direction to Sheildaig and in a westerly direction via Badachro to Port Henderson ,then in a southerly direction via Opinan and South Erradale to Red Point a distance of 15.272km (9 miles 862 yards) or thereby. B8057: Commencing at its junction with Gorston