Walk to School Paths Project

The Council’s Transportation Department then consolidated the WALK TO SCHOOL paths proposal with its ongoing cycling projects, in particular at the locations in Benderloch, Strath of Appin and Kilmartin where they are now working with Sustrans to develop the National Cycle Network.

The project then took on a wider sustainability agenda by proposing that the path work itself be undertaken by the Employability Team, providing skills and employment opportunities for the long term unemployed in the area.

The aim of the project is to offer significant lifestyle changes for local people that will lead to healthier and more positive attitudes, contribute to fragile rural economies and increase road safety in an area dominated by road transport. These outcomes will be a result of:

• More young people and parents walking


• More young people and parents cycling


• Healthier more active lifestyles with associated benefits


• Reduction in car use


• Training and work placement opportunities for New Deal participants which to date has the following results – 95% of participants achieving a training outcome, and 63% moving onto sustainable employment.

WALK TO SCHOOL links with localised community plans and the Community Planning Partnership Plan, is in accordance with Argyll and Bute’s Transportation Strategy “Access the Future”, and relates to Scottish Executive strategies relating to sustainability, employability, health, wellbeing, sport and young people.

The WALK TO SCHOOL project has a total cost of £269,610 and has received funding from:

• Fresh Futures (Lottery) £46.904


• New Deal (Employability) £83,518 and


• Sustrans £108,000


• Argyll and Bute Council in kind funding £31,188.

The project was also supported in kind by Ennstone Thistle who subsidised materials costs.

At each location an Access Agreement has been drawn up with landowners. The Council is particularly grateful to all landowners involved for their co-operation with these Agreements.

The project has five main paths in four locations, Benderloch, Appin, Kilmartin and Rosneath and has also included some improvement work to school access paths at Inveraray. Work on the paths commenced in April 2005 and is due to be completed by July 2006.

Benderloch – Lochnell Primary School

• School role 83


• Length of path – 550m


• Width 2m


• Surface – compacted whindust over hardcore


• Path completed June 2005.

There has been a longstanding problem in the village of Benderloch as the trunk road A828 passes through the village and was the only access to the primary school. The new path’s route is along the disused railway line through the village to the back of Lochnell Primary School. The path allows pedestrians and cyclists, wheelchairs and pushchairs to cross at the pelican crossing adjacent to the shop and petrol station and walk to school. This path will form part of the National Cycle Network route 78.

Kilmartin Primary School

• School role 41


• Length of path – 1136m


• Width – 2m


• Surface – compacted whindust over hardcore


• Completed - April 2006.

The Old Coach Road was very muddy and not suitable for general use prior to WALK TO SCHOOL giving the route a significant upgrade. The path links the primary school and Slockavullin to Kilmartin village avoiding the main road. There was previously no option for pupils to walk from Kilmartin Village to Kilmartin Primary School as there is no footpath along the busy main road. The Old Coach Road upgrade now forms part of the National Cycle Network route 78 and links with a number of cycle ways in the Kilmartin Glen area.

Strath of Appin Primary School

• School role 37


• Length of Path – 3700 m


• Width 2m


• Surface – compacted whindust over hardcore


• Work started April 2005 and was completed January 2006.

This path will allow pupils from the Portnacroish housing area and houses in the surrounding Castle Stalker to access Strath of Appin Primary School without having to negotiate the A828. The path is now suitable for cyclists, pedestrians and wheelchairs/pushchairs. It follows the route of the old railway between Connel and Ballachulish and will form part of the National Cycle Network route 78.

Appin School Link

• School role 37


• Length of Path – 110m


• Width 1.5m


• Surface – compacted whindust over hardcore


• Path started May 2006 – estimated completion June 2006.

Although pupils living at Kirkton have only a short walk to Strath of Appin Primary School their only route currently is on the narrow pavement along the A828. This is a very busy and fast road at this stretch and many parents feel that the pavement is unsafe and so do not allow their children to walk to school. The proposed route for the path would allow pupils access from the housing at Kirkton into the village without having to walk alongside the A828.

Rosneath Primary School

• School role 121


• Length of path – 225m


• Width 1.5m


• Surface – black top


• Work started in October 2005 and was completed in Feb 2006.

The Tom a Mhoid route was well used, but due to poor surfacing and maintenance it was regularly not suitable for elderly users, cyclists, young children, wheelchairs users or pushchairs. The area has a population of approx 400. Residents will use the upgraded path as it is a more direct, safe and pleasant route than the main road alternative to Rosneath Primary School, Rosneath Church and the major village services – shop, post office, Howie Park and Princess Louise Hall.

Argyll and Bute Council would like to thank all funders, landowners, and the schools and communities involved at each location for their valued contributions to the WALK TO SCHOOL paths project.

For further information please click the links shown below.