During the second half of 2024, we as a community spent time working out what our new priorities should be, to replace our previous 2018 plan.
The result is our new Plan for Fort Augustus and Glenmoriston Community Council area. It was completed and signed off by the Community Council in January 2025, and subsequently registered by the Highland Council as a Local Place Plan in July 2025
This website charts the development of the new Plan.
What's in the Plan belongs to us as a community. Whatever our age or interests, it aims to reflect all of our needs and aspirations for the future. It will guide what we do as a community, as well as influencing public services and investment.
Now we are working hard to turn the Plan into reality! If you’d like to help, please get in touch with the Community Council or the Community Company.
WHAT’s THIS ALL ABOUT?
Our last community action plan was prepared in 2018. When it was reviewed in 2021 with lots of community input, it was clear that plenty of progress had been made - but people said there was more still to do. The infographics below capture the main points of that 2021 review (to see everyone’s comments in full, click here). It’s interesting to reflect on what’s changed since then.
Now we have the opportunity to use new legislation to prepare a new Plan and register it with the Highland Council as a Local Place Plan (as our neighbours in Stratherrick and Foyers have done, for example). Registering the Plan will give it more weight in planning decisions and public services.
The Community Council and Community Company have been co-ordinating the Plan and will help to implement the Plan once it is finished.
But it won’t be “their” plan. The Plan needs to reflect everyone’s aspirations across the whole community, so your input has been vital to make sure that it does.
The community’s plan
During the second half of 2024, there were lots of opportunities to shape and influence the Plan: drop-in events, online and paper surveys, schools activities and more. The diagram beneath shows how the Plan was prepared.
The first stage of preparing the Plan was to find out people’s aspirations for their communities. So, in June and July 2024, a community survey took place to find out exactly that.
Events also took place in Invermoriston, Fort Augustus and Dalchreichart during June, for people to find out more, share ideas, fill in the survey, and enjoy a cuppa and some cake.
Pupils in every class at Kilchuimen Primary and Academy also came up with suggestions, thanks to the Pupil Council and their teachers.
The four infographics below summarise everyone’s suggestions, providing a fascinating insight into our communities. Download a PDF of the complete set by clicking on any of them.
ASPIRATIONS
If you’d like to see more detail, check out the transcriptions of everyone’s suggestions from the community survey, pupils at Kilchuimen Primary and Secondary, and the community events in Fort Augustus and Glenmoriston.
DRAFT PLAN
In summer and autumn 2024, people’s suggestions were used to draw up a draft Plan for everyone to review.
There was then a public consultation on the draft Plan - for people to check whether it matched their aspirations and, if not, change it.
The draft Plan was available for comment online and in local shops for nearly 4 weeks from late October until Sunday 24th November 2024. Drop-in events were held in Fort Augustus and Invermoriston in mid November, and a session was held to review the draft Plan with the joint Pupil Councils at Kilchuimen Campus. A big thank-you to everyone who took the time to read and review the draft Plan, which you can still see on the draft Plan page.
The Community Council considered everyone’s comments at its meeting on 27th November 2024, and agreed the following changes:
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More emphasis on nature & environment.
A clearer message that the Plan aims not for population growth, but for a more sustainable population balance over time with a greater proportion of younger people and people of working age.
More detail against each of the area-wide actions.
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Strengthening the visitor management / road safety proposals on the A82, Oich Road and Canalside (including an aspiration to close the campervan site there).
Aspiration to lengthen visitor stays (including better information & interpretation).
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Updates to the road safety proposals on the A82(T) and A887(T).
Increased use of the Millennium Hall.
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More detail on community-led delivery, monitoring and review of the Plan.
You can see everyone’s comments on the draft Plan, including explanations of how they influenced the final Plan, by clicking here.
FINAL PLAN
You can see the plan below or download it here. It was registered by the Highland Council on 30 July 2025, after being submitted by the Community Council in January 2025.
Making it happen
The hard work of implementing the Plan has already started. Here are some of the things that the Community Council, Community Company and Glenmoriston Millennium Hall Community Association have organised over the last few months:
New signage, 20 mph speed limits, road markings and flashing lights at each end of Fort Augustus
Bunoich Brae handrail replaced, and no parking/loading enforcement on A82 between Caley Brae and Bunoich Brae
Invermoriston hall toilets upgrade
Invermoriston Community Shop supported financially for a further year, and Tarff Trading has extended its food offering to meet local requirements
Accessible paths around the Convent Land, adventure play
Support with transport costs to swimming lessons for Kilchuimen Primary children
3 new apprentice opportunities in the past 6 months
New Community Council website and Facebook page, and Ness News more widely available
Other work in progress includes:
Cemetery path / car park improvements and lobby for reduced speed limits in Invermoriston
Improvements to the Ardachy Road
Conversion of Glentarff House in Fort Augustus to two affordable homes for local people, with another proposed in Kilchuimen Academy Janitor’s House
Cill Chuimein Legacy Project at Inchnacardoch Bay
Abertarff play area improvements in Fort Augustus
Community acquisition of Fort Augustus Memorial Hall is close to completion
Exercise classes for teenage girls, cinema trips to Fort William
Ongoing work to address visitor management, waste management and public transport, and respond to windfarm proposals
Remember!
The Community Council and Glenmoriston Millennium Hall Community Association are entirely volunteer-run, and the Community Company has limited staff and a volunteer board.
If you’d like to help support the Plan, please get in touch.
Community Council
contact@fortaugustus-glenmoriston-cc.co.uk
www.fortaugustus-glenmoriston-cc.co.uk
Community Company
01320 366800, Fort Augustus Village Hall
contact@communitycompany.co.uk
Glenmoriston Millennium Hall Community Association