Once in Oban I cycled the 18 miles to Luing where I was staying. On Thursday, Carol and I cycled parts of the path we could to just short of Port Appin. Most of the path is still under negotiation but some of it is open and is already looking like a promising new route to add to the stable of Sustrans NCN paths.
We saw places along the way that were suitable and even perfect for interpretation, including seating and artworks.
On Friday Norrie and I visited the other sites including Port Appin and beyond to Ballachulish.
Here are some comments from Norrie:
"What a creative day Friday was and the ideas keep coming! Further possible titles I've thought of for the zones within the main title are from Ballachulish Bridge south: The Rail Way/Railway Line (or Glenachulish Way), The Shoreline Way (from Kentallen north), the Birlinn Way around Port Appin if it's not used for the general title, and the Woodland Way where the path cuts away from the road into woods at Benderloch.
At the clearing near the Ballachulish station platform the following poem or some such could be on inscribed on the sides of big slates approaching the clearing and in a big slate circle on the ground.
wind blows
burn flows
wind whispers
larch shivers
wind calls
leaf falls
At the Kentallen coastal stretch an alternative ending instead of 'the mooring' could be:
on rock
lichen circles
birch grows
thrift quivers
wave rushes
we sit (alternative a mooring)
The next stage is to start writing the management plan. We now have a wealth of information to put in it including the possible locations and types of interpretationn/artworks. Our aim is to create a sort of wish list of interpretation so that local artists/contractors can be employed in the creation of the works based on an agreed plan and format.
We have met enough people for us to be encouraged that the Path can take on a life of its own and that there will be interest and ideas flowing once the path is starting to be completed. Already the Dunbeg bit is popular with walkers and cyclists alike.
But the name is still under discussion but so far the following are popular:
The Longshore Path
The Shoreline Way
Shore to Sky
Sea to Sky
Sea to Slate
Other names are welcome - please see my website to access the contact form.
