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Attached is the specification for the North Highland Way as published in 2014.As you can see, there was a lot of support.  I hold the feasibility study, as developed with Nature Scot, however, as it has not been paid for it is not in the public domain.The following have indicated their support over the last few weeks, and these form the steering group, although we do not need them all to sit round the table to discuss.  They decide what is best for their own areas.1.  Association of North of Scotland Trails.  They are doing the John o Groats Trail.  Perhaps the members of the "Hub" could assist with communications there, as Mr. Wilson is funded and I am not.  I have a meeting with NESCAN on 21st June about how we can broaden the scope to the Scottish Coastal Trail, which is already in existence apart from the North Highland Way. I also have a meeting with the Arygll hub on 29th June. No doubt they will keep you updated. I use Vive for communicating generally.2.  Landowner at Dunnet Head - I can contact him when I need to.3.  Thurso Development Trust - will not attend the meeting this afternoon due to lack of capacity, but are supportive, and now have access to the Miro board.  I have given access to the Miro board should you wish to contribute.4.  Dounreay - I am in touch with them re the area around Dounreay only.  The West Caithness community council are on that board, so perhaps you could assist by contacting them and sending the specification. 5.  Tongue - Mr. Whiteford will attend the meeting this afternoon. I am not certain whether this is in his personal capacity as owner of the Tongue Hotel, or as part of NHI, but as you can see NHI were consulted last time.  However, they would not fund any project management money, so I withdrew at that stage from any development work and focussed on marketing what we had already done.   People no longer pay for .gpx files so this kind of subscription is no longer valid.6.  Borgie - the North Sutherland Forestry Trust do not wish to be on the steering group, due to lack of capacity, but they know they can come to the Council and myself if they need anything.7.  Durness - Durness Community council have been invited to the meeting this afternoon but it is not certain whether they will attend. There is another gentleman in Durness who may well assist as he has before. He is a geologist and a member of the NW Geopark. Issues1.  The North West Geopark has no staff at present.  They are not even responding to the Council.2.  There is no cycling development.  However, the equestrian development is through the e-magazine of which I have hard copies provided by the Orcadian and will be distributing and speaking to members of the Caithness Riding Club and Pony Club at the Caithness Show, and of course at the Sutherland Show. A prize has been acquired for the Caithness Pony club from Bransby Horses in Lincolnshire.3.  No funding for infrastructure.I am sending you this now, before the meeting, as I will not have the time after the meeting.  The minutes will be typed up and put in this area.  I won't be distributing separately.I look forward to hearing from you as to how you could assist, but the link at John o Groats and with DSL are two ways. Another way would be to have the North Highland Way as a project on your web site, and that of the John o Groats trail.I look forward to hearing from you as to the Friends of the North Highland Way membership.ResearcherI look forward to hearing from you also as to my own membership as a researcher, author and tutor.  I will not be working full time after the end of June until the beginning of September, as I am studying for my Economics of Renewable Energy course.  At my tutorial last night, we were advised that one of the tasks was to choose a renewable energy installation and critique it in environmental and economic terms.   Inevitably, this will be in the northern Highlands, as were my previous studies on the forests and the Causewaymire windfarm.  Or it may be on Orkney, as I am now on the Board of the Orkney Renewable Energy Forum.  I have a board meeting on Orkney next Tuesday night.My next book is Elements of the Environment - Soil, as followed by the Highland Council recycling department.   Some of my books are now available in the Wick and Thurso Libraries. Environmental News is due out next week and will be available on line, backed by Queens University Belfast, Heriot Watt University, Caithness Renewables and other parties who are currently taking part in the Climate Fringe Festival.You / interested parties can register your interest in the environmental studies course, as backed by UHI, Heriot Watt and London South Bank Universities. If you think of other ways you might be able to assist, it would be much appreciated.Like you, I will not be sending out long emails in the future to no avail, so will communicate through Vive. Marion is in contact, but I note you have refused to be in contact.

There is a cliff fall in this area so take care. This blocks access.Coordinates: 58.649298°N 3.272896°W

https://justcoasting.home.blog/blog-feed/

.gpx files not allowed

Dear allAs some of  you will have noticed by now, there is to be a Climate Fringe Festival from 10-18 June 2023 with its base at the Station Hotel in Thurso.  I have included the Climate Change Hub's web site on my web site at www.tinagostravelling.wordpress.com, and now put up a couple of travel options - not, of course, anything to do with air travel or motor vehicles.  This is to assist the Highland Council with their ongoing problems with too many cars on the roads during the summer, and of course to alleviate the problem with the awful state of the roads.I would point out here that had HIE, the NDA and Dounreay been supportive of the development of the North Highland Way, the Highland Council's budget would not have been so stretched on road maintenance.  As it is, the only thing the NC500 achieved was to put the north of Scotland on the map.  For the rest, the Highland Council Access Officer and I have redeveloped the western end of the route so it goes over the Mhoine and there is of course the coastal path as well.  The Geopark is seen to be the western end of the North Highland Way, and the eastern section will be discussed with the Access Officer at our meeting on 10th April 2023.  I do not attend tourism meetings.  I have enough knowledge of the area and the businesses not to have to do that.Venture North have declined to have anything to do with this Festival and refused to put the event on their web site.   I am not going to make a fuss, I will just carry on as I always have, doing my best for the North.  The Highland Council, specifically Matt Dent, will be the central point for gathering information from the various tourism meetings.  I will not be involved. We meet on line once a month.  Nature Scot input to my plans on a regular basis, as do VisitScotland.   We hope to start building the Climate Action Plan in the autumn, although there will be no money, so businesses will have to pay in for my administration expenses, as they did at the start of the development of the North Highland Way when 40 businesses contributed to costs of the web site and some of my administration.  My travel costs to meetings were never paid for, but then I was the proud owner, with my partner, Brian Sparks, of the Dunnet Head B&B and tea room in those days.I have applied to Joan to be a member of the Hub with my research page at https://tinairving.academia.edu/ and look forward to becoming a member in due course.   I am in any case part of SCCAN in Argyll through my project there  - see web site.There are councillors and MPs included in the distribution list for this email, as well as HIE, Nature Scot and of course the irrepressible Matt Dent.Accommodation businesses can pay £20 to go on the map on the web site.If you have any comments or suggestions, or if community groups would like to put on an event during that period, please let me know before the end of April when the programme will be finalised.

In attendance:  Matt Dent, The Highland Council and Tina Irving REPORT FOR DISCUSSION AT MEETING ON 17TH APRIL 2023AIMS: To look at funding for the eastern end of the North Highland Way.To look at any issues1. I have asked Jamie Stone MP to look into the Dounreay Stakeholder Group. They have providedno money at all for the North Highland Way, even when we applied twice under the Dunnet HeadEducational Trust. They fund Venture North, but Venture North refuse to engage, and expect myservices free of charge which is not going to happen. ~See below my interaction with AndrewMacKay of the Norseman. Venture North would not even put the Climate Fringe Festival on theirweb site. I am not going to make a fuss about this, nor about the lack of interaction between myselfand the Highlands and Islands Climate Change Hub.I had a conversation with Andrew MacKay at the Norseman. This was a conversation relating to hispersonal view, and nothing to do with Venture North. He is not interested in Green Destinationseven though he actually knows nothing about it. I have offered to assist using my SuperProfaccount. I told him that I would not be attending tourism meetings. I have told VisitScotland thesame.We discussed the eastern end of the North Highland Way. As I see it, the main sticking point isaround Dounreay itself and I have tried many times to alleviate this situation and failed. There is aroute. Of course it is outwith core path so Dounreay would need to pay for it. Is there some way wecan persuade them, either through political means or through the Council. The Vulcan site is also anissue, but the route I have in mind avoids that as well.4. Response from the Geopark regarding the proposal to making the GeoPark the western end of theNorth Highland Way. No response from Lorna.5. https://www.highland.gov.uk/meetings/meeting/4773/caithness_local_access_forum. ? Off roadat Smokehouse. What signage is there?6. The below was reported by lorna mascall <flocom04@btinternet.com>. She is the health walkleader in Thurso.“Thu, 8 Sept 2022, 16:55to meHallo Tina,I am a volunteer walk leader who walks with mostly retired members of the local community roundroutes in Thurso on a Wednesday morning.After a quick look at the website I see no reference to any work on paths around Thurso.I am also a retired person who would not attempt coastal pathways on my own.My Risk Assessment is to avoid them due to the rough nature of the walking and the often closenessof the cliff edges.1 Prepared by Tina Irving BSc PgDip 4th April 2023While I welcome better access for walking unfortunately many people do not risk assess thedangers which could be involved.The Local plan for Thurso identified the need for a boundary path round Thurso for walking andcycling but the funding is not there to provide this at the present time.News of another fatality on the shore line near Thurso makes me say Sorry but I don’t want tobecome involved with this project.SincerelyLorna”ANY OTHER BUSINESS1. Climate Action Plan: Venture North are not doing this either. VisitScotland said I “can go ahead ifI want to”. I will explore with interested parties, but they will have to pay an administration fee.Loch Ness have one. VisitScotland think we should have one.2. Email sent - I do not expect a reply, but have put Ron Gunn, Matthew Reiss, Carl Rosie andRaymond Bremner on my mailing list. I will discuss with the SNP and Jamie Stone (5th and 6thApril 2023 respectively)“Dear all sent 1/4/23 Ron Gunn, Matthew Reiss, VisitScotland, Nature Scot, HIEAs some of you will have noticed by now, there is to be a Climate Fringe Festival from 10-18 June2023 with its base at the Station Hotel in Thurso. I have included the Climate Change Hub’s website on my web site at www.tinagostravelling.wordpress.com, and now put up a couple of traveloptions - not, of course, anything to do with air travel or motor vehicles. This is to assist theHighland Council with their ongoing problems with too many cars on the roads during the summer,and of course to alleviate the problem with the awful state of the roads.I would point out here that had HIE, the NDA and Dounreay been supportive of the development ofthe North Highland Way, the Highland Council’s budget would not have been so stretched on roadmaintenance. As it is, the only thing the NC500 achieved was to put the north of Scotland on themap. For the rest, the Highland Council Access Officer and I have redeveloped the western end ofthe route so it goes over the Mhoine and there is of course the coastal path as well. The Geopark isseen to be the western end of the North Highland Way, and the eastern section will be discussedwith the Access Officer at our meeting on 10th April 2023. I do not attend tourism meetings. Ihave enough knowledge of the area and the businesses not to have to do that.Venture North have declined to have anything to do with this Festival and refused to put the eventon their web site. I am not going to make a fuss, I will just carry on as I always have, doing mybest for the North. The Highland Council, specifically Matt Dent, will be the central point forgathering information from the various tourism meetings. I will not be involved. We meet on lineonce a month. Nature Scot input to my plans on a regular basis, as do VisitScotland. We hope tostart building the Climate Action Plan in the autumn, although there will be no money, so businesseswill have to pay in for my administration expenses, as they did at the start of the development of the2 Prepared by Tina Irving BSc PgDip 4th April 2023North Highland Way when 40 businesses contributed to costs of the web site and some of myadministration. My travel costs to meetings were never paid for, but then I was the proud owner,with my partner, Brian Sparks, of the Dunnet Head B&B and tea room in those days.I have applied to Joan to be a member of the Hub with my research page athttps://tinairving.academia.edu/ and look forward to becoming a member in due course. I am inany case part of SCCAN in Argyll through my project there - see web site.There are councillors and MPs included in the distribution list for this email, as well as HIE, NatureScot and of course the irrepressible Matt Dent.”I have not received a response to this, and do not propose spending my time following up. I havebetter things to do than fight with public services.Accommodation businesses can pay £20 to go on the map on the web site.If you have any comments or suggestions, or if community groups would like to put on an eventduring that period, please let me know before the end of April when the programme will befinalised.5. I note the problem at Ormlie problem at “the Moors” with bikers ripping up the walk route. Thiswas taken off the access issue list on 2018 as it was not a Land Reform Act issue. For discussion?6. Caithness and Sutherland Ranger ServiceNo interaction.“Tina Irving <tinadirving@gmail.com>Fri, 2 Sept 2022, 09:56to Imogen, Matt, PaulDear bothI have had a discussion with the Scottish Government and they have confirmed that there is nofunding available for infrastructure for the North Highland Way. It is, in fact, in the interests ofHighland Highlife to have good paths so that they can extend their activities into mountain bikingand even horse riding. There are a lot of places which need work. So, in short, it is over to you todevelop the route with the Access Officer, as I will be spending no more time on it. Paul, does, Ibelieve sit on the Access Forum in Caithness.As mentioned to Imogen yesterday, there is an opportunity for Highland Highlife to prove theirgreen credentials by accrediting their visitor attractions under the scheme with Green Destinations.Of course, this comes at a cost. You do not pay me, you pay them.This is written in my report to Highland Adapts as a threat to NetZero.Kind regards.”7. Nature Scot3 Prepared by Tina Irving BSc PgDip 4th April 2023From Graham Neville“Have you been alerted to the Melness/Strathy area masterplan exercise? I’m on tangentially aware,but I assume it will be of interest. Many of the discussions I have had around the World HeritageSite have expressed similar frustrations about the impact of “fast” tourism and the need to slow it alldown and have a far more sustainable approach.”"Geopark - what is their view on the idea of the trail of two parts?8. My research into trees is finding all kinds of little sections which could be joined up. As theresearch is not due to be published until 2024, we won’t have all of the information, but I will ofcourse examine the core path plan as I go along.9. Did you update the document I sent you which included all of the hot spots which Ian originallydid some years ago. I am not sure if I still have it,10. Cycling: I met George Ewing, and said I would tell you that I had met him. He knows theproject is in hand, so if he is interested he will contact you.Prepared: 4th April 2023. We can discuss any updates on 17th April 2023.44 Prepared by Tina Irving BSc PgDip 4th April 2023

After a quick look at the website I see no reference to any work on paths around Thurso.I am also a retired person who would not attempt coastal pathways on my own.My Risk Assessment is to avoid them due to the rough nature of the walking and the often closeness of the cliff edges.While I welcome better access for walking unfortunately many people do not risk assess the dangers which could be involved.The Local plan for Thurso identified the need for a boundary path round Thurso for walking and cycling but the funding is not there to provide this at the present time.News of another fatality on the shore line near Thurso makes me say Sorry but I don't want to become involved with this project.

Taking in the Watershed.  We have copies of the book about the Watershed.  Cost £5 each plus postage.https://youtu.be/_WbPILRUmvY

We were the first to link up to the Camino de Santiago in Scotland.  We have a Pilgrims Office!

Friends of the North Highland Way are anyone and everyone who has contributed to the development of the North Highland Way.  This includes the Highland Council who have gone over and above their remit.  It also included Nature Scot who assisted with the feasibility study.You can become a paid up Friend of the North Highland Way here