Both the Stratherrick and Foyers Community Trust and the Stratherrick and Foyers Community Council would like to say a big thank you to everyone who came along to the Community Conversation meeting last week.

It was a really positive evening and felt like exactly what we had hoped for - a genuine conversation, with open, thoughtful and varied discussion. It was encouraging to hear a range of views shared respectfully and to see people engaging with one another as well as with us.

We plan to hold two Community Conversation meetings each year, but please remember that you don’t need to wait for a meeting to get in touch. Both the Community Trust and the Community Council are always happy to answer questions or hear comments at any time. You can contact us by email at admin@sfctrust.org.uk or email.sfcc@aol.co.uk.

We are also keen to hear suggestions for future topics that the community would like to discuss at upcoming meetings. If there are issues, ideas or projects you’d like to explore together, please let us know.

Thank you again to everyone who took the time to attend - your involvement really does make a difference.

This feed was drawn from the Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust website

Reminder that Ultra X is taking place this weekend - (2nd/3rd May). The group will be utilising the Wildside Centre, Inverfarigaig Centre and Foyers Bay Compound.

Prior to this event taking place, we have notified the relevant community representatives and appreciate their full support.

More information can be found at: https://ultra-x.co/event/ultra-marathon-in-scotland/

This feed was drawn from the Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust website

Head along for a fun-filled Family Ceilidh at Stratherrick Public Hall this Sunday, 3rd of May from 2–4pm! ????

Enjoy an afternoon of Scottish dancing with expert calling - no partner or experience needed. It’s a great chance for all ages to get involved, have a laugh, and try some classic ceilidh dances.

?? £2 entry | £5 per family
?? Refreshments included

Bring your friends, bring the kids, and join in the fun!

This feed was drawn from the Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust website

Community Conversations with Stratherrick & Foyers Community Council & Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust

Tonight - 29th April, 7pm at The Wildside Centre

Please find a copy of the Agenda ahead of tonight's meeting.

This feed was drawn from the Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust website

Just in case anyone was wondering what on earth was happening, last Sunday saw the cycling event “Etape Loch Ness” visit our area. You may know that the event uses the carpark at The Wildside Centre in Whitebridge as a Support Station, offering respite to the thousands of cyclists, from all over the world, who have just ridden over the Suidhe from Fort Augustus. Of the 6,500 who entered the event, almost 2,100 stopped in Whitebridge to get their breath and partake of some refreshments – it was pretty busy!
The event is a “Closed Road” occasion and for those not familiar, is a 360° Route, starting in Inverness and travelling down the north side of the loch and returning up the south side. Whitebridge is at Mile 45, so a lot of energy has been expended by then, and various foods and drinks are offered, alongside First Aid, Mechanics and (quite importantly!) WC facilities!

The support Station is manned entirely by local volunteers who arrive at dawn and then spend several hours feeding, watering and, on occasions, consoling the cyclists. The roads are manned by more local volunteer Marshals to ensure all are kept safe, helping to make the event as popular as it is. It is always gratifying to hear the entrants’ profuse thanks for all that the local folk do to make their day so enjoyable. It is a great advertisement for our area and undoubtedly makes people want to return for a more leisurely visit.

If you want to be a part of what is a very prestigious event next year, volunteers are always welcome, so feel free to let us know and we can put you in touch with the organisers.

Finally, we are delighted to report that SFCT’s Project Co-ordinator Sorin Bogdan actually competed in the Etape, and finished with an excellent time of just over four hours - including achieving a time of 30 minutes to ride the “King of the Mountains” from Fort Augustus up to the top of the Suidhe! What an achievement – and we checked – no battery on his bike! The man’s a machine! Well done, Sorin!

This feed was drawn from the Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust website

We wanted to let everyone know that we won’t be holding the Gathering this year. This decision was not taken lightly. It reflects the need to make some cost savings, particularly to help fund the recent grant to BCC for the purchase of the Foyers Stores, as well as recognising the significant amount of staff time required to deliver an event of that scale.

That said, we’re really pleased to share some good news. A new Events Committee, made up of local volunteers, has now been set up and they are already hard at work planning alternative community events. The committee has decided to run a Community Gala on Saturday 15th August at the Wildside Centre, and we are also hoping to hold an evening event on the same day. More details on this will be shared soon.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be getting in touch with local groups, organisations and individuals to see if they’d like to be involved in the Gala in any way. We’re looking forward to creating a fun, inclusive event that brings the community together, and we really appreciate everyone’s understanding and continued support.

More information to follow very soon!

This feed was drawn from the Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust website

We would like to provide a wider community update on the field in Lower Foyers owned by SFCT, is currently being re-explored for possible future community use. Throughout this process, we have made a point of keeping residents living closest to the field informed, and we remain very aware of how any potential development could affect neighbouring households. We hand delivered an update last week to residents on the field side of the bridge but please get in touch if you didn't get one.

No decisions have been made, and nothing has been finalised. All discussions to date have been early, exploratory conversations aimed at understanding what, if anything, the community might value from this space.

An initial open meeting was held to gather ideas, followed by two further themed meetings: one focusing on growing fruit and vegetables, and another on leisure and outdoor activity. At all meetings it was clearly stressed that these were idea-gathering sessions only. All views were listened to, and the potential impacts of any ideas on nearby residents were discussed openly and carefully throughout.

Ideas were considered not just for the Foyers field, but more broadly, and those that emerged for the field were low-level, small-scale proposals with the potential for significant community benefit. Suggestions included a community polycrub and raised growing beds; some fruit trees (with awareness of deer pressure and the possible need for limited fencing); a sensory garden; and native planting along the caravan site fence line to provide natural screening. Leisure ideas included a perimeter multi-use path suitable for walking, running, bikes, pushchairs and wheelchairs; a small area with gentle features requested by young people (similar to a pump-track style space); and a modest mown area suitable for informal five-a-side football or shinty.

If any ideas were to be taken forward, they would be designed sensitively and with neighbours in mind. Structures such as a polycrub would be sited away from nearby housing where possible. We are not keen to introduce parking within the field, but we are also mindful of avoiding parking pressure near homes at Riverside. While parking at the Bay can be used, we may need to consider very limited, accessible parking for less able users if required. We would not anticipate any developments that would generate large numbers of visitors at any one time.

Our hope is that, if progressed, any plans would enhance the field, remain respectful of those living nearby, and provide attractive, multi-use community facilities that benefit the local area, including residents closest to the site.

We will continue to engage openly as ideas develop and ensure both the wider community and local residents remain informed and involved.

This feed was drawn from the Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust website

Following joint working between Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust (SFCT) and Stratherrick & Foyers Community Council (SFCC), we are launching a series of Community Conversations.

These informal, open meetings will focus on key themes affecting our area, while also providing space for wider discussion. We want to create a more welcoming, two-way conversation where community members can ask questions, share views, and raise any issues that matter to them.

The sessions are open to everyone, and we encourage you to come along, have your say, and help shape future discussions.

If you have suggestions for future topics, we’d love to hear from you - please get in touch.

Cheese & biscuits along with tea & coffee will be available.

The Community Minibus will be running for this event.

Book now to secure your seat!

Important Information

All passengers must book in advance

Pick-up points will be arranged

This service is free of charge

To book your seat:

Call or text: 07949 916955

Email: sharon@sfctrust.org.uk

This feed was drawn from the Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust website

Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust invites all members of the community to join the Community Leisure Steering Group.

This follows the Riverside Field community conversation in the first week of April. Early ideas include a gym, swimming pool, and sauna for community use, however there is much consider and elaborate on.

No decisions have been made, and there is no set agenda. This group is about working together to shape a strong, fair, and practical proposal for Board review in May 2026.

First meeting: 15th April

Time: 7pm

Location: The Wildside Centre, Whitebridge

Tea and biscuits provided - all welcome.

This feed was drawn from the Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust website

SFCT would like to thank everyone who has supported the conversation around the future of Riverside Field, and especially those who attended the meeting on Thursday 2nd April at The Hub in Lower Foyers.

From that meeting, two clear ideas emerged:

Community Growing Space

Strong support was shown for keeping the field as natural as possible and using it for gardening, growing food, tree planting, polytunnels, and wider community resilience.

Leisure Facilities

Ideas included a gym, swimming pool, and sauna. While this option also received support, it was backed by fewer people on the night.

As a result, a Community Garden Steering Group has now been formed. Their next meeting is at 6:30pm on 9th April at Foyers Bay Country House. Everyone is welcome.

Since the meeting, several community members have also come forward in support of leisure facilities. We are therefore also helping start a Community Leisure Steering Group, which will meet at 7pm on Wednesday 15th April at The Wildside Centre, Whitebridge - More info will follow.

At this stage, nothing has been decided. These groups are being formed to help shape strong ideas, which will then go to the SFCT Board in May 2026 for review and prioritisation.

We are committed to a process that is fair, transparent, and focused on the best outcome for the community.

To share your thoughts, ideas, or concerns, please email pc@sfctrust.org.

This feed was drawn from the Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust website