'Park, stride and ride' Black Isle dolphin hotspot bid could boost visitor spend
DOLPHIN watchers flocking to a Black Isle beauty spot to catch sight of the playful cetaceans will be given extra incentive to 'park, stride and ride' later this year.
Bottleneck-prone Chanonry Point has been a flashpoint for peak-season parking issues in years gone by, promoting the introduction of parking charges in a bid to ease the problem.
Now, it has been confirmed that a free shuttle bus linking Chanonry Point with Fortrose and Rosemarkie will run in July and August this year in the wake of a successful bid by the local community council.
It follows a pilot project for a paid-for shuttle bus last year which did not prove commerciallyu viable.
Fortrose and Rosemarkie Community Council member Sarah Atkin said: "Finding solutions to traffic congestion issues at Chanonry Point has become a personal priority for me as a community councillor.
"Better information, promoting alternatives to the car and the introduction of parking charges
began to make a difference last season despite the commercial shuttle bus proving unviable.
"So, after much lobbying, we are delighted Highland Council has agreed to our idea of
funding a free service for the peak season, paid for from income generated by the parking
charges.
"Aside from supporting the aim of reducing congestion, our hope is that a ‘park,
stride and ride’ option will also encourage visitors to stay and spend money in our villages
once they’ve seen the dolphins."
The service will be operated by D & E coaches for July/August only from 11.30am until 4pm daily, running every 30 minutes.
It will run on a loop from Marine Terrace, Rosemarkie taking in Chanonry Point, Ness Road, Station Square/High Street in Fortrose and Marine Terrace in Rosemarkie.
A Chanonry Point information leaflet is expected to be available in June.
