Digital discovery app puts Campbeltown on the map
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Campbeltown’s whisky distillery chiefs have welcomed a new digital guide that promotes the history and whisky heritage for which the town is world renowned.
As well as a whisky trail and information about the town’s three remaining distilleries, the Discover Campbeltown app features walking and cycling guides, a family quiz and scavenger hunt for all ages, as well as a trail map linked to a geographic information system that includes all locations.
The cycling and walking trails included in the app, which is optimised for phone and tablet devices and is available for download now from app stores, complement the existing walking tours available in the summer months.
The app has been developed and produced by Argyll and Bute Council with support from local people and community groups, funded by Smarter Choices Smarter Places.
It is part of the legacy of the town centre regeneration programme (2007-2020) that has seen more than £10 million invested in town centre buildings, safeguarding homes and businesses and attracting new investment to the town.
Ranald Watson, director of sales and marketing at J&A Mitchell & Co, told the Courier: ‘The new Discover Campbeltown app is a brilliant tool for anyone visiting the area and a tremendous amount of work has gone into it, both on the design front and on the content.
‘It will be perfect for helping visitors get to know the area and make the most of their stay and, for that matter, there will be plenty information on there that locals will enjoy discovering too. That’s particularly true of the whisky trail section: Campbeltown’s whisky history is pretty well-documented but to have such a comprehensive guide to both the old distilleries and the present day whisky companies at your fingertips is unprecedented.
‘Whisky tourism is a real growth area for the three strands of our business – Springbank, Glengyle and Cadenhead’s – so the depth of information in that app will only help to bring more people here to explore that side of things.
‘Importantly, it will also encourage some of our whisky visitors to spend longer in the area during their visit, resulting in extra business for hotels and other accommodation providers, bars and restaurants and the local economy in general.’
Iain McAlister, Glen Scotia Distillery manager and master distiller, said: ‘The Discover Campbeltown app is a super concept, James Lafferty and his team did so much to bring this to fruition and realisation, which will undoubtedly assist both visitors and customers to all local businesses and indeed the wider community to truly understand the true involvement the whisky industry held in this town.
‘This is both functional and accessible on an easily accessible modern platform. Hopefully this, in conjunction with the recent publications by Angus Martin, the renowned local historian, will generate an even greater national appreciation of Campbeltown and its whisky!’
Councillor Alastair Redman, policy lead for economic growth, said: ‘Discover Campbeltown is a fantastic addition to ongoing regeneration works for the town. Volunteers do an amazing job promoting Campbeltown and we wanted to harness that local knowledge of hidden buildings, the people who made the town and of course its famous whisky history.
‘Many people know about the whisky history but now we can also share Campbeltown’s rich heritage and stunning walking and cycling routes. Whether you live in the town or are visiting Argyll and Bute, I would encourage people to download the app and find out more about what Campbeltown has to offer.’