A new consumer website has launched this week as part of the Spirit of the Highlands and Islands project which aims to inspire visitors to explore the natural and cultural heritage of the region.
The platform provides a unique way to discover hidden gems in the Highlands and Islands through the use of crowd-sourced community stories, film, audio and itineraries. The Spirit of the Highlands and Islands project is a partnership between The Highland Council and High Life Highland, and is delivered in collaboration with VisitScotland.
Cllr Ian Brown, Leader of Inverness City and Area and co-chair of the Inverness Castle project Delivery Group said:
“The project is bringing a new way for visitors to immerse themselves in the culture and communities of the Highlands and Islands by inspiring them with genuine local stories and interactive content. The style in which the project has delivered this content encourages slow travel and allows new and existing visitors to explore not only the natural beauty but also the cultural elements of the area year-round.”
Users can explore the area using the website in various ways including by regions, locations, themes, and itineraries, with each leading to inspiring imagery, videography and audio-stories.
For those looking for inspiration, there are several fantastic itineraries, some spanning a few days and others offering inspiration for day trips. The itineraries have varied themes to spark interest with visitors, for example, food and drink, coastal day trips, traditional knitwear, literature and film locations.
The next stage for the website will be creating a unique function to enable people to build and create their own personal itineraries. This allows visitors to plan, save, download and utilise it on their next trip to the Highlands and Islands.
Visitors can access and explore the platform by visiting: discoverhighlandsandislands.scot
Fiona Hampton, Director of the Inverness Castle Project, said:
“By showcasing the Highlands and Islands through the voices and stories from local communities, we hope that they inspire visitors to explore different regions and immerse themselves in the culture. The next exciting development phase will allow new visitors and locals alike, to create personalised trips from stories and content that have piqued their interest and ignited a sense of place.”
Chris Taylor, VisitScotland Destination Development Director, said:
“Helping visitors engage with our rich natural and cultural beauty is the key aim of the Spirit of the Highlands and Islands campaign – from the stage they are researching their trip right through to getting here and experiencing it. The launch of the website – alongside the hub for stories, video and virtual reality – will be a vital tool in supporting sustainable tourism across our region.
“This project encourages visitors to stay longer, visit all year round and explore more widely. Tourism is a force for good; creating economic and social value in every corner of Scotland and enhancing wellbeing.”
The new consumer website is part of a series of digital tools for the Spirit of the Highlands and Islands project which is supported by a by a grant from the Natural and Cultural Heritage Fund (NCHF), led by NatureScot and funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The Spirit of the Highlands and Islands project is part of the Inverness Castle project. The Castle, opening in 2025, will benefit from £30m investment to support its redevelopment from the Scottish and UK Governments, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and a range of other partners.
The Inverness Castle project is part of the Inverness and Highland City-Region deal, which is a joint initiative supported by up to £315m investment from the UK and Scottish governments, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and University of the Highlands and Islands, aimed at stimulating sustainable regional economic growth.
