Upper Cormonachan Heritage Paths Project

Aim

To extend our 2.5 km network of paths by 2 km to the beautiful Cormonachan Falls and Medieval Settlement from our Contemplation Shelter.

What are we trying to achieve?

This is an exciting project to extend our present 2.5 km network of paths by 2 km to reach the beautiful Cormonachan Falls and Medieval Settlement from our Contemplation Shelter adding another car park. These 63.9 ha (158 acres) of ancient semi-natural oak rain forest woodlands date back to the earliest map of 1590. We have already raised £125,279, half the cost of the paths construction, leaving £127,867 still to find which is why we need your help...

Our website, http://www.cormonachan-woodlands.co.uk/cormonachan-history/future-projects/new-projects/ shows the project in detail with photos, plans and videos. Cormonachan Community Woodlands is situated half way between Lochgoilhead and Carrick Castle, Argyll and the project is supported by over 30 letters of support, including Ramblers Scotland, the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park and Argyll & Bute Council.

Cormonachan Community Woodlands (CCW) funding request is to create a 2 km network of pathways for our 'Cormonachan Woodlands Heritage Paths Project'. These will connect to our existing 2.5 km of paths in the community woodlands and open up a new route through the Upper Cormonachan, ancient Atlantic oak woodlands and rain forest. 

A further link will be to the National Park's core paths system via the existing 5 km forest road from the Cowal Way, an extremely popular route for ramblers, at Lettermay, Lochgoilhead (proposed route to access and construct the pathways), leading to the bridge above the Medieval Settlement. (https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/argyll/cowal-way.shtml) and a new link funded and about to be constructed to Carrick Castle and onwards to the village of Ardentinny. Potentially, significant visitor attractions will include a 16th century Medieval Settlement and the stunning Cormonachan Falls. The route will include four main viewpoints with panoramic views across the Cormonachan Falls, mountains and sea lochs. A new car park facility (8 cars and minibus) would be situated below the waterfalls, giving direct access to this area. Currently, there are no parking facilities which results in people leaving their cars in single road passing places. The Medieval Settlement is a fine example of an abandoned joint tenancy township; the most common evidence of settlement in the late medieval period in the Scottish Highlands. The precise date of origin is unknown, but it is on record circa 1747. Many of the joint tenancy sites in Highland Scotland date back to the late medieval period and were mapped by Timothy Pont in the 1590's as this one is. A spur route will lead towards the Medieval Settlement and a new path constructed to join across to the existing CCW path network. Further heritage will be on view as visitors trek through the woodlands. The construction phase includes five bridges and route planning minimizes disturbance to the ancient woodlands.

Extending the existing Cormonachan Woodlands will create the following perceived benefits: 1) Feedback from the local hospitality sector concurs that the heritage paths project will be of great benefit economically to the Loch Goil area. Recorded visitor numbers are 9,945 visitors in 2021 and are expected to double. 2) The Heritage Trail will help reduce visitor pressure in other hot spot areas of the National Park. 3) Both the Ardroy Outdoor Education Centre and the Lochgoilhead Scout Centre, are keen to partner up with CCW to include the proposed heritage trail as part of their in-house curriculum. Ardroy especially may benefit from access to the Medieval Settlement via the Lettermay forest road. They will be able to transport physically challenged individuals up to an area which would have previously been off limits. Ardroy would expect to have circa 2,000 P6/P7 children / year including a variety of children, teenagers and adults with a diverse variety of issues and disabilities attending their courses. It is envisaged that this development of the proposed new heritage section will enhance their Curriculum of Excellence.

 Why is this something people should care about?

 The plan of the Medieval Settlement

The two main aims of our proposed Cormonachan Woodlands Heritage Paths Project, are primarily to conserve the heritage of the Medieval Settlement situated in the greater Upper Cormonachan area and secondly, to protect the approach pathways to the settlement from the main road up to and past the Cormonachan Falls and from the existing Cormonachan Woodlands network, across to the waterfalls area. Degradation of the Medieval Settlement site is occurring due to the uncontrolled movement of people visiting the site and unintentionally creating further damage to the remaining structures. It is our intention to create a greater educational experience for visitors with the use of a West of Scotland Archaeological Service (WoSAS) approved route though the site, along with an interpretation panel now situated on location. Due to the lack of a proper paths network, significant damage is occurring to the woodlands area from the main Carrick Castle road leading up to Cormonachan Falls and additionally the woodlands are being affected by adventurous ramblers hiking from the existing Cormonachan Woodlands via uncontrolled routes, across to the waterfalls area.

The impact of COVID and dramatic increase in visitor numbers to the Loch Goil / Carrick Castle area, has highlighted the need to ensure that people from all walks of life, can access the much-needed wellbeing benefits of the pathway network through the ancient Atlantic oak woodlands in the Cormonachan area, without damaging this precious resource. CCW aims to both protect this rare woodlands area and provide visitors with a fulfilling experience.

What makes our project interesting?

The fundamental aim of Cormonachan Community Woodlands (CCW), is to offer a heritage experience which will enrich the lives and well-being of all individuals who visit these Ancient Semi Natural Woodlands which is part of the Scottish Rain Forest. The creation of dedicated pathways as set out in our proposal will provide long term protection to these heritage sites and the general environment throughout the woodlands. Additionally, with the creation of the pathways leading across to the existing paths network, an entirely new undisturbed area of ancient woodlands and rain forest will be opened up to the general public and other organizations wishing to educate a wide variety of groups who would otherwise be totally none the wiser of the history and heritage of past ages and depredations carried out in the 17th century.

The Cormonachan Woodlands are also becoming more noticed by a far wider audience. During the recent COP26 Summit held in Glasgow, a delegation from the indigenous Amazonian tribes visited CCW to compare their tropical rain forest with our temperate one.
 

The indigenous Amazonian's planted an oak tree blessing the forest.

This event received front page coverage in all the Scottish national newspapers. Additionally, CCW was selected to feature in a forthcoming BBC woodlands programme series called Loggerheads due to be aired on TV early in 2022.

We will also extend our three current Geocaches by a further three, example:- https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC9AEYN_contemplation-shelter - Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity, in which participants use a Global Positioning System receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called "geocaches" or "caches", at specific locations marked by coordinates all over the world).

What impact would it have on the community or environment?

From the point of view of the local community, the majority of locals were totally unaware of the existence of the Upper Cormonachan Medieval Settlement and beauty of the Cormonachan Falls, since few people have visited the sites due to the difficult terrain. A significant level of local support has now grown as demonstrated with the level of donations (£18,400) raised by the local community, Lochgoil Community Trust and from Friends of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs. The Lochgoilhead primary school pupils will be able to learn about their local heritage. They have already taken part in the Heritage Heroes Awards in 2019 where P4-7 took part in looking at the Medieval Settlement with an Archaeologist on site and preparing a 14-page report with most work contributed by the children. This is something that can continue similarly into the future with new groups of children. 

CCW pride ourselves in being a highly diverse organisation with many LGBT members in our ranks and are keen to extend the experience of our natural woodlands to a wider audience of individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds, such as ethnicity, gender, physical and mental well being and deprived inner city social standing. This project is supported by the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park's Development Plan (2018-2023).

The Heritage Trail will provide an additional visitor attraction to the Loch Goil area. It is perceived that local businesses (hotels, guest houses, B&B's, restaurants, cafes, etc.) will benefit commercially from the influx of tourists, ramblers and other organisations. By keeping visitors longer in the area, it is more likely that employment will rise to meet visitor demands. Furthermore, post Covid-19 restrictions, the Ardroy Outdoor Education Centre is now back using the woodlands. 

Raleigh International volunteers by the 'Loggerheads' Squirrel Sculpture

Previously, prior to Covid-19, over 1,000 children annually have visited and taken part in the maintenance of the existing Cormonachan Woodlands area. Ardroy management wish to offer all year round, educational experience for the children and other minority groups using the woodlands. The creation of the Cormonachan Woodlands Heritage Paths Project will prove to be of great benefit to the Ardroy Curriculum of Excellence. As part of the curriculum offered, children will be able to gain knowledge about the heritage of the Cormonachan Woodlands and participate in the maintenance and upkeep of these heritage sites. It is envisaged that students will be able to take part in archaeological surveys, learning about woodlands, rain forests, the flora and fauna contained in these woodlands and how people used to farm and live in the Middle Ages. The Scouts Adventure Centre have additionally expressed great interest in including the use of the proposed new paths network for outdoor education. Scouts Scotland has an outdoor activity centre based in Lochgoilhead. They deliver activities to many young people through scouting groups, school groups, Duke of Edinburgh award, John Muir award, etc. Participants are encouraged to be active outdoors and to gain skills for life. For the wider audience, a variety of groups from different social backgrounds, ethnicities, physical and mental limitations would be able to visit these woodlands without any entry fees and be able to learn about their diverse Scottish heritage. 

This is the Contemplation Shelter with its amazing views over Loch Goil

Who are we and what's our experience?
1) Cormonachan Community Woodlands Ltd., is a Scottish Charity No: SC050840. It is run by five directors and trustees and has over 100 supporting members and volunteers. The woodlands have been open free to the public since the paths were first opened from 1998 and boast a very healthy population of red squirrels and pine martens, which can be viewed from our Squirrel Hide. A variety of artworks and sculptures can be found throughout the paths network.

2) Donald Kamsley: Director, Trustee & Chair and Volunteer Team Leader.
Don is 63 years old and has resided in the Loch Goil area for 8 years. Currently he runs a successful guest house with his wife. Previously for 34 years, he worked all over the world as a senior consultant oil field engineer to all the leading oil major companies. He has a vast experience in managing large diverse teams of personnel and multi-million pound projects. His skill sets include an in-depth knowledge of risk management; project cost controls; team leading and controls relating to all aspects of health, safety and the environment.

3) Douglas (Dee) Locke, Director, Trustee, Company Secretary & Secretary:
He is 80, retired, after 43 years working mainly in his own businesses, including farming, international transport (employing up to 25 people) and Internet marketing. He has been involved with the CCW since 1998 and has been the main person applying for funding projects since 2015. He has run the day to day business of the organisation and also been a volunteer team leader for the last 7 years.

4) Frances Walker, Director, Trustee & Volunteers Leader & Volunteers Team Leader.
She is 59 and has been volunteering at Cormonachan for circa 5 years. Planting native trees (679 have been planted in the last 18 months), helping to maintain the existing pathways and structures and welcoming new volunteers. Frances lives and works locally and walks regularly around the local area.

5) Richard Hall, Director, Trustee, Treasurer and Volunteer Team Leader:
Richard is 55 and moved to Lochgoilhead in 2016 where he now runs a motor boat hire company on Loch Goil. Previously he ran for many years a successful marquee and events business in the South East of England, employing people (up to 15 at peak season) and running all aspects of a reasonably sized company (up to £1m turnover), which taught him business and people management skills. During that time he was also on the regional board of The Princes Trust, giving him experience of the charity sector and was a governor at his children’s school for four years, with special responsibility for health and safety. He is now treasurer for the CCW Ltd and a team leader for the frequent volunteer days to maintain the woodlands.

6) Jacqueline Matthews, Director, Trustee, Woodlands Manager and Volunteer Team Leader:
Jacqui is 49. Having studied engineering, pollution control and sustainability; Jacqui worked 14 years for a large engineering consultancy. During her time in their environmental department she had a working relationship with Environment Agency, Local Authorities and Utilities providers. A volunteer at Cormonachan woodland for 2 years.

This project successfully funded on 31st March 2022