Friends of the John O’Groats Trail (JOGT), a long-distance walking route which stretches from Inverness to John O’Groats, have announced the appointment of their first ever manager, after receiving funding from the Caithness and North Sutherland Fund, the Beatrice Partnership Fund, and the Caithness Beatrice Fund.
Kenneth McElroy, will join the John O’Groats Trail from mid-September, and will oversee the development of the trail. McElroy, a community development specialist, brings several years’ experience in the North Highland tourism sector, with former roles with the Wild North Festival, North Coast 500, in addition to his voluntary service as director with Caithness Broch Project.
McElroy, 33, a graduate in archaeology from the University of Glasgow, is excited to begin a new journey with the John O’Groats Trail, as well as a return to the North Highlands.
“I’m absolutely delighted to take the next step in my career, and hope I can do the area proud. I’m a big believer in tourism – and especially slow tourism – as a regenerative, positive force for good, especially for an area like the Highlands.
The trail offers so much – from fabulous coastal views, whale-watching and of course unbeatable archaeological wonders – and the opportunity to develop this further is a real privilege.”
Jay Wilson, Founder and Chairman of JOGT, noted that Kenneth’s appointment “represented a big step forward for our charity and for the trail. Our first full time employee will give us the resources to engage more fully with communities and expand the appeal of the trail for locals and tourists alike.”The John O’Groats Trail is a registered charity founded by Jay Wilson in 2014 and extends 146 miles from John O’Groats to Inverness along the North Highland coastline, and boasts an impressive range of scenic coastal sights – from stunning sandy beaches to dramatic cliffs. It is thought to have welcomed over thousands of walkers from all over the world since its inception. For more information, visit https://www.jogt.org.uk/.