September 2026 ADGT Update

Heritage Ideas for the Ardgour Community Council Area – SAVE the DATE!

The AGDT will host two public consultations to seek ideas from residents about the sort of heritage projects that could be tackled in the coming years if funds can be sourced. This year we launched the Gaelic version of the “Geotourist Trail” around Ardgour and Clovullin, with the help of the Mary Ann Kennedy, the University of the Highlands & Islands and Bòrd na Gàidhlig, and as part of that project the  Ardgour Hall will shortly have bi-lingual signage too.

However, community responses from the Ardgour Place Plan consultation in 2023/4 suggested that there are lots of interesting cultural and archaeological assets that could be preserved or developed and these meetings are a chance to come along and tell us what you think over a cuppa! All welcome.

Treslaig Hall 7.30-8.30pm Monday 14th September

Ardgour Hall 7.30-8.30pm Monday 21st September

Ardgour Area Fund News

Following the recommencement of community benefit payments from the Glensanda Quarry via Holcim UK Ltd, the Trustees held their quarterly grant-awarding meeting in Treslaig on the 12th August. A grant was approved for Urram to take steps to open a Re-Use Hub and Charity Shop in Clovullin, and a conditional grant was offered to the Sunart & District Agricultural Society towards re-fencing the showfield. These were in addition to the £9,000 ringfenced for continued feasibility work on the Clovullin Affordable Housing project.

The next grants deadline is November 1st. Application Forms and funding guidance are available at:
https://www.ardgourcommunitiestogether.net/applications-to-the-trust-for-funding

Clovullin Affordable Housing Project

Feasibility work continues with engineers now working on the first phase of technical designs, whilst we await news of other funding applications with requests for £140,000 outstanding. A finalised draft layout has been agreed following a July meeting with Ardgour Estate where discussions revolved around how to preserve as many of the mature trees as possible and where to plant more trees to replace any that have to be removed. You can visit our website for further updates.

Volunteer Bike Handlers Needed

As mentioned last month, the community e-bikes formerly available courtesy of the Community Council and Ardgour Ales are currently out of action awaiting refurbishments. The bikes will eventually be relocated to the repaired shed beside the Ardgour Village Hall once funding has been secured. Before that can happen, we're looking for a small team of volunteer Bike Handlers.

Volunteers will carry out simple safety checks when bikes are hired out and returned, helping us meet insurance requirements. Lochaber Environmental Group will provide training covering basic maintenance checks and minor adjustments, and all volunteers will receive a certificate of competency. This should amount to a few hours per month at most!

This would be a great opportunity for anyone interested in cycling, pupils looking to gain practical skills, or retired and semi-retired residents who can spare a little time every month or two. A volunteer rota will ensure the commitment is kept to a minimum.

If you'd like to get involved, please email enquiries@agdt.co.uk. In the meantime, if you'd like access to a bike sooner, Lochaber Environmental Group offers refurbished bikes for sale and a fantastic Bike Lending Library from their Claggan base. Find out more at: https://www.lochaberenviro.org.uk/lending-library/

MUGA

Work on the MUGA site has paused whilst we focus on moving the housing project forward, although the former woodland site between the Hall and Primary school has now been thoroughly surveyed ahead of a future planning application. In the meantime the Project Officer has been working with representatives of the Parent Council to facilitate the installation of the new ‘community-owned’ goal posts at the Primary School which have resulted from Innes Turnbull’s amazing fundraiser.

Keeping in Touch

Don't forget that printed copies of our 2025-26 community newsletter are available to pick up from Ardgour Memorial Hall, Treslaig Village Hall and Ardgour Ales!

Find Out More

For more information about the Trust and our projects, please contact enquiries@adgt.co.uk or projectofficer@adgt.co.uk, or visit www.ardgourcommunitiestogether.net.