Urquhart Castle – Monument and Community Support Strategy

Client: Historic Environment Scotland
Planning Solutions Consulting Limited (PSC) was appointed by Historic Environment Scotland to develop a Monument and Community Support Strategy (MCSS) for Urquhart Castle, following a previous MCSS commission completed for Caerlaverock Castle. Urquhart Castle generates up to 500,000 visits per annum and is an nationally important heritage destination.

The Urquhart Castle MCSS overarching purpose is to contribute to Our Past, Our Future 2023 -28, Scotland’s national strategy for the historic environment with the mission: “To sustain and enhance the benefits of Scotland’s historic environment, for people and communities now and into the future.” and its three priorities. And further to assist this popular HES flagship site contribute to the 2022-2025 HES Corporate Plan vision and its five outcomes whilst embracing the Place Principle and helping the surrounding Glen Urquhart community achieve its aspirations for the wellbeing of local residents and other stakeholders.

PCS began with a review of policy drivers including Scottish Government’s NPF4 which puts the six qualities of successful places – including connected and sustainable – at the heart of development proposals and gathered evidence on regional priorities for the Loch Ness and Inverness area and host community profiles, opportunities and challenges.

This was followed by a technical report detailing analysis of the admission experience (interestingly, visitors to Urquhart Castle can also arrive by boat), visitor experience, financial performance, visitor characteristics, the visitor journey and fit with the Glen Urquhart Community Action Plan. This also included a review of the wider marketplace to ensure future development proposals were market lead, an analysis of case examples to learn from best practice and an extensive programme of internal and external stakeholder engagement.

This lead to a “Visitor Experience Development Action Plan” being prepared which set out a rationale for quick wins and longer-term infrastructure projects requiring a collaborative and integrated approach to enhancing the visitor experience, building financial resilience and reducing visitor transport carbon emissions and enhancing connectivity with the host community.

Importantly, collaborative and inclusive working at a strategic scale was identified as being a fundamental Criteria for Success and key to effective and integrated Place Making. Find out more about Urquhart Castle here.

How can we help?
If have any questions about preparing a support strategy or exploring future options for a castle or other heritage site please don’t hesitate to call Richard Linington on 07866 742628 or email richard@pslplan.co.uk