How to boost visitors to your area? One community in Scotland is taking a more hands on approach to tourism. Locals of Wanlockhead, which is the highest village in Scotland, have voted to buy nearly 4,000 acres of land. They plan to develop the land for tourism opportunities.
The community will buy the land from the Duke of Buccleuch. The site contains sections of a popular walking route known as the Southern Upend Way and areas of “natural, historical and recreational significance” A plan by the Wanlockhead Community Trust (WCT) will see the area transform into a sustainable tourism hotspot.
Residents of Wanlockhead Have Grand Plans to Attract More Tourists
Plans include lots of creative ideas from locals for how to attract visitors. The village will host music and art festivals, events and attractions. There will also be new accommodation and facilities for camping and caravanning. With so much natural beauty, the area is perfect for a camping holiday.
The village could establish a mountain resort with year-round activities like curling, zip-lining and dry slope skiing. The area is currently home to  Scotland’s highest pub, the Wanlockhead Inn, and the Museum of Lead Mining.
“This is the first big step towards a brighter future for our community. If we can own the land, we can make our own decisions about its use,” said Lincoln Richford, chair of WCT.
The group now has six months to raise the £1.4 million they need to complete the buyout. The WCT will submit a grant application to the Scottish Land Fund to request funding for the land purchase. As well as developing tourism, the buyout plan aims to offer more jobs for the community and improve village restoration.
Curious about the future of the buyout? You can keep up to date with plans for the village here.
