Highland communities and publicity. You win some, you lose some.

Small communities which are dependant upon tourism have a love/hate relationship with publicity. They love it when it is good, and hate it when it is bad. Quite understandable, especially when their living depends upon it.

Let me tell you what happens inside a publication or television station when they get reaction from the public to a story they put out. At one time in a misbegotten past, I ran a sports radio programme for the BBC and was the Marketing correspondent for The Times.

The publisher always loves praise and thanks, and they remember it because they don't get much of it. Anyone who writes in to a journalist or editor and compliments them on a story is warmly regarded and if they do it often enough is remembered. All journalists, without exception all around the world, keep a little book of contacts. These are the people they always telephone first for quotes when a story breaks. It is very useful for someone in a community to get on to that list, very useful indeed. This is why some people's names are always in the paper. They are in the book. Don't take the journalist for granted, take him out to lunch.

The publisher ignores any adverse reaction to a bad story if they can. But if the criticism is effective or widespread, or organised, then boy, do they remember it. Anyone who organises a really effective attack on them is immediately taken out of any little books, and is marked down for further treatment in the future.

Oh yes, I can remember taking out a sailing club from my list, when a mildly critical piece about a race being run during high winds was objected to. They did not get on the radio again during my time there, no matter how many open meetings they ran. They never knew. Easy peasey.

So when a community gets publicity it does not like it is best to ignore it. Keep your head down. It will go away quickly. It is usually a one week wonder. However if a community objects, then it gives the story legs, as they say. The television people might follow it up with more critical pieces, run a feature on it, do an in-depth piece. Readers and listeners might start commenting on forums, and the story never goes away.

There are often stories about communities which they do not like. The Oban rail crash was not too popular with the residents of that metropolis. The Loch Awe fishing tragedy was not taken well with the residents of Kilchrenan I'm sure, but their publicity was good when when they organised a new safety system for the loch. They'll be in journalists books. Ardchatten community on the other hand did themselves no favours when they objected after the rail crash to the traffic being re-routed through Appin. Really silly. They'll be out of the books.

We are very lucky because we get a lot of mountain accidents, which no one likes but happily the rescue team is warmly regarded and is in every journalists book.

There is definitely a time to bite your lip.
John
20 brilliant walks around our cottage area
Easy hill walks in Glencoe
Why not walk up Ben Nevis one day?
Easier Munroe walks in Glencoe
Rock and Ice climbing in Glencoe
Cycling and fishing Glencoe
Spectacular wild life around our cottage
Golf in the Highlands, Dragons tooth golf course, Glencoe
Cruising the islands, using Glencoe as a base
Safe, beautiful beaches and bays in Glencoe area
Touring the Highlands by car from Glencoe,
Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe
Winter breaks, Jan Feb March in the cottage
Autumn breaks November December in the cottage
Our new Appin blog site

Archery lets fly at Kinlochleven

Arrows
Originally uploaded by Gary Danton

What a lovely idea for a rainy Tuesday - youngsters on a Monday. In less than three months since it started, local archery enthusiasts have flocked to join the club new club at Kinlochleven. Folks travel regularly from Glencoe and Ballachulish. Ring up Kirsteen Hine, the secretary, for details for visitors who want to try it out. She is at 01855 831119 . Great idea - what with this and archery lessons on the Glencoe Mountain resort, our Viking heritage is as strong as ever.
The Vikings used the strongbow, and their archers were situated behind the Shield Wall. Yes, they could have used it in a battle in Glencoe. We are mentioned in the Viking Sagas.

John
20 brilliant walks around our cottage area
Easy hill walks in Glencoe
Why not walk up Ben Nevis one day?
Easier Munroe walks in Glencoe
Rock and Ice climbing in Glencoe
Cycling and fishing Glencoe
Spectacular wild life around our cottage
Golf in the Highlands, Dragons tooth golf course, Glencoe
Cruising the islands, using Glencoe as a base
Safe, beautiful beaches and bays in Glencoe area
Touring the Highlands by car from Glencoe,
Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe
Winter breaks, Jan Feb March in the cottage
Autumn breaks November December in the cottage
Our new Appin blog site

Oban Rail Crash on Facebook group

This pic is from Stv

Someone has opened a Facebook Group about the Oban Rail Crash. It is called "Its time to Replace the Oban Train". Already within a week it has 436 people signed up to it.

Honestly, lads and lasses, we are in the Highlands of Scotland - it is one of the most sparsley populated areas of the country. The train had 60 people on it. The accident was caused by boulders sliding down the hill.

The boulders are always sliding down the hills. A couple of years back the A82 from Crianlarich to Callendar was totally blocked for days with a massive landslide after heavy rains. Why don't we just tie some scrim around the foot of all the hillsides along the roads and the railway tracks going up to the tops? The type of train had nothing to do with it. In this day and age, if you make a fuss about this issue you'll get another Beeching review which will shut the line altogether.

They can't even afford to make a few extra passing bays on the A82 or the A85. They've got to re-build the Forth road Bridge first.

John
20 enchanting walks around our cottage
Hill walks nearby in Glencoe
Going to do Ben Nevis one day?
Easier Munroes around Glencoe
Rock climbing in Glencoe, the best
Cycling and fishing in the Glencoe area
Wonderful wild life around our cottage
Golf at the Dragons tooth golf course, Ballachulish
Cruising the islands, using Glencoe as a base
Beautiful beaches and bays in the Appin and West highlands area
Touring by car from Glencoe
Spring breaks at the cottage
Winter breaks, Jan Feb March in the lochside cottage
Autumn breaks November December 3 days/4days
The new Appin blog site