Report from Community Consultation  held March - June 2009

The consultation reported below was carried out voluntarily by Escape Lodge Ltd because this is the open and consultatative manner in which an eco-lodge should conduct its business.
In August 2009 the Scottish Planning legislation changed and, as a result of covering an area of over 2 hectares in size, the Escape Lodge development became recategorised. This new categorisation required 12 weeks prior notification to the planners before the planning application could be lodged and a community consultation to be caried out including a public event advertised in the local paper.  Our notification has been registered by the Planning department at Dingwall.

Below is the report we prepared following the earlier consultation event.

Community Consultation March - July 2009

In March 2009 Escape Lodge wrote to occupants of Dundonnell with information about the proposals. This linked to this website containing further elaboration. We received letters and messages of support and several requests for more information which we subsequently addressed in personal discussions.

In June 2009 we invited the community to an open afternoon to meet and discuss any concerns.  This event was attended by 22 people including residents of Dundonnell Estate, Badcaul, Durnamuck and Badluarach and all the residents of Badrallach, the community at the end of the road which passes the development site.

Principle issues raised:

There may not be enough water for the project which may cause it to fail.  
We have drilled test boreholes and have evidence that sufficient ground water is available for the development without affecting, or requiring use of, the Allt na h'Inge burn which borders the site.

Escape Lodge visitors wishing to walk to Scoraig may increase parking numbers at the Badralloch road end where local people believe it is already at capacity.  
Discussion resulted in a plan for Escape Lodge to drop walkers off at the Badralloch car park. They could then walk to Scoraig and use the new marine taxi to Badluarach to be picked up.  As a sellable `activity package' this benefits all involved.  Likely numbers are 2 - 6 people on occasional days per month and we do not believe this will intrude significantly upon the community of Scoraig.

Some people did not want ”an outside development landed on them” without local benefit
This development site has been provided by locally controlled Dundonnell Forest Partnership.  It has been developed by an Ullapool resident with lifelong experience of Highland and rural life and we believe we have considerable sensitivity to the local culture, heritage and community. As a concept an eco-lodge must be developed without detriment to the local community and all Scottish economic development research and policy indicates such an investment in the area would be a benefit, both economically and socially. A population of 300 people is a small number from which to expect the initiation of new business developments and the involvement of `outsiders' may not only be inevitable but hopefully beneficial.  If you feel you would like us to listen to your worries, or have suggestions for how the development could benefit the community we are very open to this and please feel very welcome to contact Becky Thomson directly.

Some felt Escape Lodge might destroy the very tranquillity and remoteness it requires.
We will have to provide information to `educate' our visitors so they know what they are coming to.  It is a policy of the Wester Ross National Scenic Area to promote `quiet enjoyment' and we believe this is a principle attraction for the type of guests who will want to visit Escape Lodge.

By providing information on walks and places of interest, in consultation with local landowners, visitors can be guided towards suitable routes and beaches with provision for the public so reducing any intrusion upon fragile areas.  Staff will have good knowledge of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and will promote and explain it to guests where required.
To lessen the impact of vehicles, a pickup/drop off service meeting the bus at Braemore junction will assist visitors to reach Escape Lodge without a car.
Cyclists will be encouraged by the provision of suitable covered bicycle storage, access to tools and spares, and membership of the Cyclists Welcome scheme.

A concern was expressed that the capacity for 60 bedspaces (including a completed Highland Township) would damage the peace of the area.  
In the height of the summer season when accommodation businesses are full to capacity we have calculated the following minimum numbers of visitors stay locally:
Dundonnell Hotel:  72, B&Bs/Self-Catering 40+,  Campsites 40+, Hostel 16, Eilean Darach House 20, Private Holiday Homes - unknown.
With over 200 visitors in residence the area maintains a quiet and uncrowded atmosphere and we believe a further 60 people who have come for natural beauty and peaceful surroundings can be similarly absorbed.

We have found the other accommodation providers in the area are generally unconcerned about our impact and in general think that we may raise awareness of Dundonnell to their benefit.

Several people asked us to lobby for an improved public bus service for Dundonnell.  
The current bus service is very limited and any improvement would be a considerable benefit for Escape Lodge we would certainly wish to research and support solutions to this issue.

Impact on local backpacker hostel - we may compete for bednights.
We believe Escape Lodge is sufficiently different from the Sail Mhor hostel in both the style of accommodation provided and pricing structure.  We believe there is space for both forms of provision in Dundonnell and hope that our high publicity profile may increase public awareness of the natural beauty of the area thereby encouraging an increase in visitors for all of the local accommodation providers.

Increase in traffic on the Dundonnell - Badrallach road.
Several people were concerned about the increase in traffic on the single track public road.  Please find our asessment of this here. It should be noted that Highland Council Roads department did not raise concerns about this. We would also like to take this opportunity to point out that we must assess fully and honestly the impact of the development when at 100% capacity, a state which is of course subject to considerable fluctuations.
The development is purposely unsuited for 50 seater coaches, is not intended as a visitor attraction has no capacity to operate as one.  Whilst the site itself will be made suitable for public access, this is in compliance (and support ) with many local and national rural policies.  The access provision is no different from any other part of Wester Ross which is subject to Public Access legislation.  There are therefore many other places visitors can visit within the National Scenic Area before they are likely to choose the Escape Lodge site for a walk.  We therefore believe the impact of those who do visit for a walk on our site will be very minimal and we are happy to make them welcome.


Some people have expressed concerns that a building with considerable glazed areas on the hillside will be very conspicuous at night.  This was our concern also and we have prepared a statement to explain why this is very important to our business and we do not intend to intrude upon the naturally dark night landscape of Dundonnell.