News
For this section of the website to be a success we need the input of viewers to the website and walkers on the Great Glen Way or from those who have been on the cycle route. We would encourage you to send us your comments on the website using the on-line Questionnaire or to submit news or general comments you can e-mail us and we will endeavour to respond to your suggestions.
The type of news content that we would like to feature in 2005/6 is as follows:-
- Experiences on the Way, both positive and negative.
- Forthcoming charity events that are incorporating the use of the
Way. We will help to promote the event and provide post event news.
- Competitions to bring interest to the Way.
- Activities in the surrounding communities that could be of interest
to the potential walker and which might encourage them to walk at a
certain time.
- Any other related issues to walking or the area.
Temporary Route Diversion
The earlier diversion on the Loch Lochy section has now been lifted and route is without any problems except for a
very small diversion at Craig Dunain to allow for building works for the SNH headquarters.
Walking North to South
During the summer of 2005 I walked the route in the North to South Direction for the first time. In this direction you
certainly get the harder sections up front, so be aware of the challenge for the first day. Perhaps there is also a slightly
greater chance of making an error in this direction, I went off course for only about 100 metres in the grounds of Craig Dunain
hospital but I also know of another group that made an even greater mistake close to the site of the new SNH buildings and
this resulted in a significantly longer detour. The moral of the experience is not to rely in total on the signs and finger posts,
the one I missed was covered by an overgrown hedge.
In terms of views, there is not a great deal to recommend one direction over another. The advantage on Loch Ness is that the path does several zig zags so you see both north and south. Perhaps if I were asked to choose I would still favour the South to North option, I prefer the walking out of Fort William to the walking in, and you can miss the views over Inverness to the Firths behind if you start the walk from the Castle.
Website Growth
This has been our second fastest growing walking website in 2004 and our
associated organisation
Walking Support. This year has also seen the highest number of books on this route compared to any other route.
This is a good sign as we now support six others paths in Northern Britain.
2005 has seen the level of interest maintained in terms of the growth of visitors to the website and our associate
business booking demands, but we perceive a slight dropping off in actual numbers walking the route coming from all sources.
2005 has seen the level of interest maintained in terms of the growth of visitors to the website and our associate business booking demands, but we perceive a slight dropping off in actual numbers walking the route coming from all sources.
French Walking Group on the Great Glen
In great summer weather (2005) a French Walking Club from mainly the southern provinces descended on the Great Glen
Way to enjoy the walk and to learn and sing about this part of Scotland. With the help of Walking Support the event was
organised successfully with only the last days planned climb of Ben Nevis being cancelled for bad visibility.
This group of walkers always have a singing and cultural theme to their walks helped along by the undoubted poetic, singing and musical talents of the groups two leaders. Not only at points along the route but in the hostel accommodation each night others visitors to teh area would be enchanted by the sound of singing and poetry.
After the 73 miles the group were sold on Scotland and the countryside and talking about a return trip to walk another of Scotland's several long distance walking routes. They were also well aquainted with the Scottish Midge, but this did not marr the walk, but it did result in the need to have a small smouldering fire to make one of the lunchtime picnics relaxing.
At the end the highlight section for many was the walk from South Laggan to Gairlochy. The feeling was that they were closer to the Loch then earlier on Loch Ness, and perhaps it was also influenced by the slightly less demanding ascents and descents. The section closest to Gairlochy at the path skirts round the shore line was particularly enjoyed.
French Walking Club at Inverness Castle
Woods at Dunain Hill
Lunch above Loch Lochy
Lunch above Loch Lochy
Guided Sponsored Walk
Walking Support is a booking and guiding company and we have been
involved in planning and guiding charity walks. This has been with a
range of charitiable organisations related to either local or national
fundraising.
We are keen to have such a sponsored walk happening on the Great Glen Way in 2005. For us the objective is to support worthwhile causes, to have a defined reason to be walking this route again, and to gain some joint publicity for both the Charity and the walking route.
In the past we have been involved in guiding an event that gained over £18,000 for the charity, but we are equally happy to work with charities where the target many be considerably lower. If your are a charity or an individual wanting to raise money for a charity and think it would be also a pleasurable activity to experience the Great Glen Way start by e-mailing Walking Support and detailing your outline plans. If we can help then there could be a sponsored walk running in a matter of weeks.
Promoting the route in Utrecht
From our experience of planning and booking walkers on the route in
2003, 55% came from the Low Countries, 30% from North America and 15%
from the UK. Perhaps this low local figure reflect the fact that more
British are confident enough to plan and arrange the walk without
expert help. 2004 again saw the majority of individuals booked on the route coming from abroad. More recent statistics from Walking Support indicate that in 2005 and 2006 the percentage of UK walkers has increased.
The histoic figures do however demonstrate the importance of the Low Countries as a market for walkers and we have attended and exhibited on two occasions at the Op Pad outdoor walking and cycling exhibition in Utrecht to promote this route and website to the continental walkers.
Walker's Newsletter
We, the webmaster, and Walking Support are now producing a Newsletter for Long Distance walkers
that is submitted free of charge to anyone who subscribes. The newsletter is distributed by e-mail and is only sent out
when we have news or offers.
To register we need you to submit a registration e-mail which is as simple as clicking here then sending while on line. We will not devulge your e-mail address to any other business or party, you will only receive newsletters from us. You will also have an unsubscribe option on all Newsletters that we send out should you decide to discontinue the service.
The newsletter will provide information on this route and others where we have a interest, and has developed into a forum for exchange of experiences between walkers. It is also a place where we are able to offer special offers to our readers in the form of discounts of early news.
