£2.3m to protect Scots landscapes

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A mountain range, a remote peninsula and an island have been earmarked £2.3m aimed at regeneration and conservation.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has set aside funding for the Ochils in Clackmannanshire, Applecross in west Scotland and the Isle of Harris.

The Landscape Partnership Awards aim to help public bodies and community groups improve their local landscapes.

Orkney's Scapa Flow and the Tweed Rivers project have already benefited from the four-year-old scheme.

The new awards will mean a total of £48m has been invested into 29 landscapes across the UK.

Colin McLean, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, said: "There can be no disputing that Scotland has stunning scenery, steeped in history and rich in wildlife.

"The chief custodians of this wonderful resource are the numerous community groups repairing walls, interpreting monuments, or clearing rivers, often working in isolation with little or no help.

"What HLF brings, through its Landscape Partnership scheme, is a holistic approach across a large geographic area where public bodies and community groups work together with a shared passion of protecting and enhancing our incredible landscape."

Historic ceremonies

Applecross, located opposite the Isle of Skye, is a rugged landscape of mountains, crofting settlements and moorland.

The Applecross Landscape Partnership, led by the Applecross Trust, has been allocated £1.03m.

The project's proposals include conserving buildings such as Clachan Church, restoring drystone dykes and promoting Gaelic language and culture.

The Isle of Harris Landscape Partnership Scheme, led by Harris Development, has been awarded £622,700 to preserve and promote the island's heritage including traditional skills and historic ceremonies, and to conserve the native woodland.

A £650,800 award will enable the Ochils Landscape Partnership Scheme, led by Clackmannanshire Council, to improve access to the hills, restore locally significant buildings and promote the area's cultural, social and industrial heritage.

An earmarked award, or "stage one pass" does not guarantee funding.

Money for the schemes is set aside and the applicants are expected to submit a further, fully developed application to secure the full award.