Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry

 

Our Community Website

Hello and a warm welcome to the community website for Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry. This site is built and run by our Community Development Trust, the Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry SCIO (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation).

Within our 1,000 sq km we have something for everyone, including fourteen challenging Munros and four magnificent freshwater lochs. Despite the abundant wilderness, two major trunk roads cross our area, the Caledonian Canal passes through the Great Glen and we are still served by four fully operational railway stations. It’s no exaggeration to say we are literally the Hub of the Highlands.

As a resident, on our community pages you can find out more about what’s happening across our area, as well as a directory of useful local tradespeople. Our Facebook page is also updated regularly. Our Community Council is there to represent all those who live here, and you can review the minutes of all its recent meetings. Additionally, we provide a link to faith, special interest and sporting groups which are active within our boundaries. Please support our charity’s work locally and let us know the issues which matter to you most by completing Following our successful Community Consultation over the Summer and Autumn, when 385 responses were received to our Community Survey, we plan to prepare a Community Action Plan in April 2023. Its publication will be a major landmark for our charity.

For business owners, we are very aware that new ventures often appear, so if we have missed something please help us keep up to date by emailing us using the link below. We will readily update our listings – at no cost of course. A new initiative we propose is a jobs board, so do let us know if you have a vacancy, and if you have a closing date for applications.

We also take a brief look at places of interest for our visitors, who will also find a list of hotel and other accommodation providers including self-catering cottages, pods and camp sites, with links to their websites. You are assured of warm hospitality across our area.

Finally, we’ve included some information about SSE’s proposed hydro pumped storage scheme at Coire Glas on Loch Lochy. Exploratory works will be underway in February, and if the project is given the go-ahead in mid-2024 its construction will represent the largest civil engineering project in Lochaber for decades. It will have significant consequences for us all.

                                              Two September Events                                                                                             

Our SCIO has two events coming up over the course of September to which all members and residents are welcome:                                         
                                                        Altour Road Playpark Opening – Thursday 5th September at 2.30pm                                                                                                                               
This Thursday afternoon we will be holding a small ceremony to officially open the playpark next to the Community Centre at Altour Road, Spean Bridge. The equipment was installed by Milnathort-based Caledonia Play earlier in the year after a successful fundraising drive by our SCIO. Principal funders SSE Renewables and Highland Council will be cutting the tape, and the project was also supported by Killiechonate Woodlands, the Community Council and our own Trustees.                                                                                                          
The Head and some of the older children from the Primary School will be present. Refreshments and WC’s will be available.                    
We’ll also be hosting a mini-exhibition on the ongoing Community Asset Transfer of the 4 acres of open ground and woodland surrounding the Community Centre from Highland Council. We expect to take possession before the end of the year, and are looking for volunteers among neighbouring residents and the wider community to join our Community Garden and Woodland Steering Group.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
This Group will be seeking views and co-ordinating design and usage ideas for the area over the Winter, whilst fundraising for a polytunnel, basic tools and maintenance equipment. If there is an appetite, allotments will be available to rent. If you would like to be involved, feel free to mention it to one of our Trustees on Thursday or email our Development Officer on tony@srascio.scot
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Roy Bridge School Public Information Evening – Tuesday 24th September at 6pm                                                                                                 
We’ll circulate more details closer to the time, but all are welcome to what should be an informative event at Roy Bridge Memorial Hall. We’re currently at 70% of our funding target to carry out a Feasibility Study into uses for the former school before next Spring, and our aim is to purchase the site for the community by Autumn 2025 with the assistance of the Scottish Land Fund.                               
Many ideas have been floated, and our Information Evening will be one of many chances over the coming months for you to have a say. We’ll have speakers from the Communities Housing Trust and Arisaig Community Trust showing us examples of successful rural housing projects, and we are very fortunate that the existing school buildings may well offer other possibilities beyond accommodation alone.                                                                                                                                                                                                       
We anticipate a lively Q&A after the presentations.

Community Action Plan

View our Community Action Plan setting out the priorities identified during our Community Consultation and the projects we plan to deliver.

News and Events

Find out what’s happening locally across our area including forthcoming events and our Facebook page

Local Groups

Discover our community, faith, sporting and special interest organisations. There is something for everyone.

Our SCIO

Our community development trust is only 10 years old, but we have ambitious plans for the future.

Business Directory

Check out our trade, hospitality and commercial businesses. Some go back several generations; others are brand new.

Spean Bridge Roy Bridge and Achnacarry SCIO

The Parallel Roads, Glen Roy  

Contact Us

If you would like to make contact, please feel free to email us here

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