I suspect some visitors head to Scotland believing it consists almost entirely of castles and ghosts. Not a surprising misconception, as that’s all too often the image presented to visitors by tourism agencies. While I agree that understanding the past is important, it’s also equally, if not more, important to be aware of what’s going on now and how that takes Scotland forward. There’s much more to Scotland than a romanticised past.

The great Scottish author and artist Alasdair Gray once said “Work as if you live in the early days of a better nation”, a quote now engraved on a wall of the Scottish Parliament. It’s a very positive sentiment and a good starting point for looking at what’s going on in Scotland today. Seeing what people are doing right now and how these activities work towards making Scotland that better, independent nation Alasdair so longed to see.

With that in mind I took a trip up to Loch Fyne head to see what’s happening there. It’s an area I know well – long school holidays spent in the rambling manse in Inveraray saw to that! And then there’s the wonderful drive to get there – a real treat in itself. Up along the shores of Loch Lomond. Past Ardgartan and up into the Arrochar Alps with a welcome pause at Rest and Be Thankful. Then down to the small settlement at Clachan at the head of Loch Fyne.

I soon discovered that for such a seemingly small place, there’s an impressive amount going on. Alongside a hefty dose of fascinating history, there’s a present day array of businesses and projects all of which are helping create a sustainable environment for people to live, work and flourish in this beautiful area.

The visitors’ hub Here We Are is central to an impressive number of wide-ranging projects, showing just what can be achieved when a community is determined enough and not afraid to accept challenges. On their website I noticed an interesting and very pertinent quote by Magnus Linklater, “If we are not aware of our own values we become victims of other peoples’ decisions. We have to bend to their agenda rather than ours, and that means not just a lack of trust in ourselves, but an aversion to risk and an inability to take decisions of our own.”  This local community has certainly shown how well trusting in themselves can work!

In this month’s iScot article I talk to some of the people involved with these projects and look at the positive difference they are making to the future prospects for this area. Take a look at the Here We Are website and get a feel for what’s afoot. Or better still, visit Loch Fyne head yourself and discover its wealth of attractions and enterprises. Enterprises that aren’t there simply for the benefit of passing tourists, but are the lifeblood of the people for whom this is home.

My article can be read it full in this month’s iScot Magazine : https://www.iscot.scot/