Natural and Cultural Heritage Fund: Our Projects

Natural and Cultural Heritage Fund Story Map

has funded new projects which aim to promote the outstanding scenery, wildlife and culture of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland in ways which support inclusive and sustainable economic growth. It has aimed to retain jobs and sustain populations and services in rural communities.

Our Projects

For more details of what these projects achieved, please visit our Case Studies page.

1. Kilmartin Museum - This project renovated Kilmartin Museum into a modern visitor attraction and learning centre. The work involved remodelling the existing buildings and adding a new extension.  Improved visitor facilities include a modern kitchen and overflow parking and outdoor interpretation and digital interpretation enhance the quality of the visitor experience.

2. The Coast that Shaped the World - This project, led by West Highland College UHI, has created a website, app and programme of digital exhibitions along the west coast of Scotland narrating the maritime stories of coastal communities. The project conveys how maritime, cultural, and natural heritage helped to shape the world.  Local stories have been mapped and gathered onto the website and app to inspire potential tourists.

3. Uibhist Virtual Archaeology Project - This project was delivered by Lews Castle College UHI and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.  The project created a series of augmented reality experiences for five archaeological sites located along the Hebridean Way walking route.  Complementary mixed-media exhibitions were established at fixed locations.  The augmented reality and mixed-media products combined interactive reconstruction images of archaeological sites with multimedia information adding detail and depth to the visualizations.

4. Dundreggan Rewilding Centre - Trees for Life constructed a centre at Dundreggan where people can experience an ancient pinewood and a unique juniper forest and discover more about Gaelic history and rewilding.  It features interpretation about Dundreggan’s natural heritage, promotes engagement with Gaelic culture, forest play facilities, accessible trails, outdoor learning and events, indoor study and research, along with improvements to the wider natural heritage.
    
5. Corrieshalloch Gorge Gateway to Nature - The National Trust for Scotland’s project created a new visitor centre which was constructed to form a gateway to Corrieshalloch Gorge and the Falls of Measach.  New path networks with wayfinding and signage were developed and parking provision was improved and expanded.
    
6. Wildlife Watch Abernethy - The RSPB Loch Garten Osprey Centre was reconfigured to increase its capacity without extending the footprint of the building. These improvements provide enhanced views of wildlife and the Caledonian forest. Natural light and solar heat enable the opening season to be extended from its original five months to eight months each year.
    
7. Access to Orkney Heritage - This Orkney Islands Council project created greater access to heritage sites and assets across the smaller isles of the Orkney archipelago. The project gives improved interpretation information about the sites and has improved dedicated trails and routes which were developed to encapsulate the main heritage locations of each isle.
    
8. Strathnaver Museum - This redevelopment project aimed to conserve the historic church that houses the current museum and improve the visitor experience. In addition, the project secured the condition and integrity of the collections, extended outreach work across the area, increased the services offered on site, expanded the number of staff and improved research spaces.
    
9. Hermaness Hill Path & welcome area - NatureScot installed boardwalks in this popular area to reinstate the historic route to Muckle Flugga lighthouse signalling station.  A circular walk around Hermaness National Nature Reserve was also created, while protecting the fragile blanket bog and rare nesting birds.  Further information was provided for visitors, aiming to benefit other local tourist attractions.
    
10. The Real Wild West - Archaeology Scotland worked with the West Ardnamurchan Community to develop their Adopt-a-Monument scheme to create a trail, tourist hubs, and physical and digital experiences, improve the condition and maintenance of ten heritage sites and develop ‘slow tourism’ adventures for visitors.
     
11. Scotland's Wildlife Discovery Centre - With Scotland’s Wildlife Discovery Centre, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland have created a centre to showcase the richness and diversity of our native wildlife and its place in the world.  The centre, at the Highland Wildlife Park in Kincraig, near Kingussie, is a gateway to the landscape and wildlife of the Cairngorms National Park. Founded in 1909, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s purpose is to connect people with nature and safeguard species from extinction.
     
12. Skye Iconic Sites Project - The Outdoor Access Trust, working in partnership with local groups, provided much-needed improvements to infrastructure and interpretation at three iconic sites – the Old Man of Storr, the Quiraing, and the Fairy Pools. Each site has improved and more inclusive access, viewpoints, and better co-ordinated information on and off site to give high quality visitor experiences.
     
13. Spirit of the Highlands: Spirit: Journeys – a new approach to enhancing the visitor experience in the Highlands and Islands.  Spirit: Journeys will open in 2025, showcasing the natural and cultural heritage of the Highlands and Islands through stories which will provide digital content and multi-media footage. The project aims to enable visitors to create bespoke journeys through the Highlands and Islands using a suite of interactive digital content and assets. It will be marketed pre, during and post visit to encourage a deeper engagement with the area’s distinctive heritage and facilitate authentic connections with the communities of the Highlands and Islands, while informing the visitor about sustainability.  This will allow the visitor to enjoy slow and immersive travel in a responsible way, respecting and engaging with local communities, travelling to minimise their carbon footprint and respecting and protecting our natural assets.  This will connect local people and communities with existing and potential visitors to the Highlands and Islands through story and personal experience. 
    
    This project will also encompass a community arts project “Spirit Journey – Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands” – which will create an embroidered tapestry exploring the spirit of the Highlands and Islands told in tapestry panels, to be stitched collaboratively by local volunteer stitchers from across the Highlands and Islands area.

Find out more

Read our latest Partner Press Release: 

• NCHF - Strathnaver Museum secures major capital funding
• NTS - Funding secured for Corrieshalloch Gorge gateway
• Trees for Life - £2 million for world's first rewilding centre near Loch Ness