New pontoons for public use have been installed in the village of Dunvegan, on the Isle of Skye, by the Dunvegan Mooring Association with support from Crown Estate Scotland.
The new visitor pontoons have been installed in the heart of the village at the head of Loch Dunvegan as part of a development programme to attract and retain visiting sailors. The project was led by Iain Houston, Chair of the Dunvegan Moorings Association.
Dunvegan Moorings Association is one of 125 mooring groups and associations managing areas of seabed under agreement from Crown Estate Scotland, allowing local communities to manage areas of seabed for the benefit of their members. This type of local management often acts as a catalyst for projects such as Dunvegan, which will benefit local & visiting sailors, local businesses and the wider area.
Iain Houston, Chair of Loch Dunvegan Moorings Association said: “Marine tourism is very important to the economy of coastal communities and we in Dunvegan are very grateful for the assistance and overall support we’ve received from Crown Estate Scotland on this project. Improved access from the sea to this coastal village will encourage and assist local enterprises by bringing increased trade. I’d also like to thank the Dunvegan Community Trust, Greig Seafood, MacLeod Estate and Highland Council, without whose support this would not have been possible.”
Paul Bancks, Coastal Asset Manager at Crown Estate Scotland, said: “We are delighted that the new pontoon at Dunvegan will be ready to receive visitors in the upcoming sailing season. Community led projects such as this can add real value to local businesses and provide a new destination for resident and visiting sailors. Iain Houston has been instrumental in the delivery of this project and he deserves great credit for the time and energy he has dedicated to improving the facilities in his local community.”
As managers of Scotland’s seabed and just under half the Scottish foreshore, Crown Estate Scotland works with coastal and island communities to enable sustainable development.
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