Lochaber GO

The Lochaber ("Gun an Otrach" - "Without the Dump") Campaign.

On 28th February 2005 Highland Council, Lochaber held a meeting to discuss a planning application for a massive extension to a privately operated landfill site. The Council use the site to deposit Lochaber's municipal waste. It also accepts commercial waste. The Lochaber Councillors voted unanimously in favour of the planning applicaton.

This website has been set up to inform the community about the proposals and how locals have come to the conclusion that there is an underlying intention to create a 'super dump' for the Highland Area and to site an incinerator to burn waste somewhere in Lochaber. It also shows some history of the site and details of some of the minutes of council meetings.

Lochaber Geopark

Lochaber has a magnificent geological heritage. The Parallel Roads of Glen Roy and the Great Glen Fault are well known, the lavas and granites of Glencoe, Ben Nevis and Glen Etive are very special too, as are the younger igneous rocks found in Ardnamurchan, and the Small Isles. The whole area is popular with visitors not only because of its spectacular scenery, but also because of the superb opportunities it offers for geological education and research. Unravelling the story behind the local igneous and metamorphic rocks has helped our understanding of the very complex processes involved in the formation of large mountain chains.

What is a Geopark?

To be awarded European Geopark status an area not only has to have an important geological heritage, but also a sustainable development strategy or plan.

The aim of geoparks is to

• protect and promote geological heritage to the public
• use geology to promote sustainable economic development usually through geotourism
• make a real difference to local communities

The idea behind the geopark concept is to raise awareness of Europe’s geological heritage in a way that brings sustainable economic benefit to local communities.

 

 

Lochaber Geopark AGM

Lochaber Geopark logo
Lochaber Geopark AGM	k
21 November 2005 Lochaber Geopark AGM at Lochaber College on Wednesday 30 November 2005 at 6pm. The Association is delighted that Graham Leslie and Maarten Krabbendam from British Goelogical Survey (BGS)  will be with us to present an illustrated outline of BGS activity in Lochaber, BGS involvement in the successful establishment of the NW Highlands Geopark and confirm BGS commitment to the Lochaber project. In addition, Noel Williams and Alison Devey will present Lochaber’s case for Geopark status, and 'the view from Lesvos'. The evening will be informative and entertaining. The Association would like to invite anyone who has an interest in our countryside, in the forces that have shaped our landscape, and what Lochaber folk can do to encourage awareness of their own geological heritage. The evening will mark the beginning of a new phase for the Association and there will be a brief AGM to explain progress to date and the future aims and objectives of the project. This is an open invitation so please pass this on to anyone you feel may have an interest. In addition, if you know of anyone who would have an interest on sitting on the Steering Group encourage them to come along and find out what it’s all about.

Founded in 1835, the British Geological Survey (BGS) is the world's longest established national geological survey and the United Kingdom's premier centre for earth science information and expertise.

As a public sector organisation we are responsible for advising the UK government on all aspects of geoscience as well as providing impartial geological advice to industry, academia and the public. The BGS is a component organisation of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), which is the UK's leading body for basic, strategic and applied research and monitoring in the environmental sciences. The NERC was founded by Royal Charter in 1965 and reports to the UK government's Office of Science and Technology under the Department of Trade and Industry.   Click here for info on the December 2005 Quake

http://www.earthquakes.bgs.ac.uk/latest/fort_william_10122005_maps.htm

SEISMIC ALERT: FORT WILLIAM, HIGHLAND 10 DECEMBER 2005 23:21 UTC 3.0 ML

BGS have received many reports from residents in the Fort William area of the Highlands who felt an event at approximately 23:20 UTC last night. Reports described, "a big bang first, then continuous rumbling", "loud rumbling", and "we have a wooden floor which shook noticeably". The following preliminary information is available for this earthquake:

DATE : 10 December 2005
ORIGIN TIME : 23:21 29.7s UTC
LAT/LONG : 56.84° North / 5.19° West
GRID REF : 205.5 kmE / 776.5 kmN
DEPTH : 3 km
MAGNITUDE : 3.0 ML
INTENSITY : 4 EMS
LOCALITY : Fort William, Highland

Last night's earthquake is the largest in the general area since a magnitude 3.0 ML event on 30 January, 1986, which was felt with intensities of at least 4 EMS in the epicentral area.

The Great Glen Way cuts diagonally across the Highlands of Scotland from the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea through some of the most dramatic scenery in Scotland.

The Great Glen Way Starts at the old Fort in Fort Willam in the shadow of Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain and then heads accross to Corpach passing  through Caol and follows the route of the Caledonian Canal which links the large lochs along the Great Glen to form a navigable passage between Fort William on the west coast and Inverness on the east coast.It follows tree-lined towpaths of the Caledonian Canal; goes along the shores of beautiful Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and Loch Ness beneath towering heather-clad hills; crosses open moorland with glorious views across the Glen, and passes castles and forts that have witnessed some of the most bloody scenes of Scotland's turbulent history.

No Fuss is all about getting out there and having a good time.

Starting from an idea to hold a small event in the spare weekend left by the growth of the Fort William Mountain Bike World Cup, No Fuss now host mountain bike, charity, triathlon and running events, as well as mountain bike guiding, with plans for much more, coming soon!

We love outdoor sports and lifestyle, developing our skills, and trying new activities, and our events reflect this.

Sail Caledonia is the annual Scottish 'Raid' or expedition for boats powered by sail and oars which takes place in the Highlands of Scotland in early summer.  Everyone who has taken part so far has acclaimed it as a fantastic event and an experience not to be missed.  Using the three major lochs of the Great Glen and the 200 year old Caledonian Canal, the fleet of up to 25 boats races, explores and ceilidhies their way up the Glen from Fort William through Fort Augustus and  Loch Ness before finishing in the journey in the Highland Capital Inverness.

At the heart of Scotland's Great Glen, the 'Caley' is one of the great waterways of the world, offering visitors spectacular scenery and amazing wildlife - including the Loch Ness Monster!

The mountain scenery of the Scottish Highlands may be a surprising setting for a canal, but the Great Glen - through which the Caledonian Canal runs almost directly from South West to North East - has for centuries been the region’s natural line of communication. 

Stretching from Fort William to Inverness, the Caledonian Canal is 60 miles long. 22 miles are man-made: the rest are natural lochs, namely Loch Lochy, Loch Oich, the famous Loch Ness and Loch Dochfour.

Widely considered a masterpiece of canal engineering, the Caledonian is on a scale incomparable with almost anything else in Britain. It has survived in part due to its continuing importance in the Highland economy, and partly because it is quite simply spectacular.

No Fuss is all about getting out there and having a good time.

Starting from an idea to hold a small event in the spare weekend left by the growth of the Fort William Mountain Bike World Cup, No Fuss now host mountain bike, charity, triathlon and running events, as well as mountain bike guiding, with plans for much more, coming soon!

We love outdoor sports and lifestyle, developing our skills, and trying new activities, and our events reflect this.

'guide future policies and actions to safeguard, manage and where appropriate enhance the environmental qualities and opportunities for visitor enjoyment and appreciation of the Nevis area'

Our Key Principles
Sustainability
Partnership and joint working
Community landowners' and Government Agency involvement. Agreement and support for management initiatives
Recognition of the area's international and national conservation, tourism and recreation importance
Commitment to action and investment

We are located on Glenpane Street just off Kilmallie Road, Caol, Fort William,    PH33 7AU. The church nestles under Ben Nevis and looks onto Loch Lihnne. If you are walking the Great Glen Way you will pass the church.

Whether you are living in this beautiful part of the world or just visiting you will be made most welcome.

We meet on Sundays for Worship at 11am and 6.30pm.  During the morning service we have a crèche for under 3’s and a Sunday school for children from 3 upwards.  You can have an opportunity to meet informally with the congregation after the service with a cup of tea and other refreshments.

Address: Services held in Caol, Corpach. Services are also held in Achnacarry.

Services: Caol Church: Sunday 10am and 6.30pm (first three Sundays)
Corpach Church: 11.30am
St Ciaran's, Achnacarry: Sunday 3pm (fourth Sunday)

Contact: Rev Richard T. Corbett