New accessible dolphin viewing point

Here is the story of how the Cheshire House Musketeers campaigned to make a busy highland tourist attraction accessible for everyone! 

It has been two years since we started this and at times we felt it would never happen but we were determined to succeed.

It is believed Chanonry Point in attracts approximately 120,000 visitors per year with most people motivated by the opportunity to see dolphins.

We are all so proud to be a member of the Cheshire House Musketeers and happy to say we've achieved a lot, but to achieve something as big and important as getting the Dolphin Viewing Area at Chanonry Point made wheelchair and pram/pushchair accessible is something we very proud to be able to say "We helped make this happen"

We believe as a group working along side organizations instead of against and have proved this method works. We want to say a big thank all to all who helped without us all working together we don't think it could be done.

The Highland Council and Philip Waite, Access Officer - for working with us and putting it in place, All the councillors that kept in touch with us. We also want to thank Scottish Natural Heritage and Wildlife Sea-life and Countryside Trust.

With Chanonry Point being an international famous place in the highlands of Scotland for dolphin spotting it's one of our biggest tourist attractions, but before we were able to create a safe and pleasant pathway down to the viewing area anyone with a physical disability was denied access and as a result had to wait for their family or partner to return with photos.

Watch this Youtube video to see how it looked when we started!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gwyLJZOCjQ

Here is how it looks now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YIAH9eHbmQ

Now with the path complete, we have all been down to the viewing point for the first time. We can now appreciate one of natures greatest creatures on our own doorstep which we were denied for so long. When the tourists come again they can share the great experience and they can spread the word when they go home...

Chanonry point is a lovely spot where you can go and view the dolphins as they swim and jump, and for years it was hidden from people with impairments. Now we can all benefit from this for years to come.

We sincerely hope all now who access the point, find outings pleasurable watching these delightful dolphins at play. HOORAY FOR THE MUSKETEERS!

The path was funded by The Highland Council's Core Path Implementation Programme (HCPIP) and the European Community Highland LEADER 2007-2013 Programme. It is part of a programme of improvements at Chanonry Point as part of the Management Group co-ordinating by which Di Agnew with Cllr Billy Barclay as chair.

Follow this to read more about The Cheshire Musketeers previous campaigns.