Communities4Coul

10/04/2026

As a local, Alex Banks really understands our frustration over the Coul Links delay.. Great piece.

Whether you're for or against the controversial golf course plans, I think you'll agree we should have an answer by now.

03/04/2026

16 DAYS TO GO......................
The story of the battle told in the majestic setting of Dornoch Cathedral. With local musicians representing the historic Clans of Mackay and Sutherland. With brand new music written especially for this event plus the old melodies and the Gaelic songs which reflected the times 280 years ago. Tickets available via our website. Under 18s go free.

Tickets at: www.dornochgatherings.com

This Is Dornoch Ruairidh Mackay April Louise Sutherland Rachel Campbell Lord-Lieutenant of Sutherland 280TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF LITTLEFERRY-TOLD THROUGH MUSIC AND STORY

20/03/2026

On Tuesday, 17th March a letter to C4C quietly appeared on the Government planning portal, asking if we would be prepared to give more information to Ministers regarding Coul Links and how it might affect the Ramsar site it sits on. Thus far, we have no idea what this information might be, but as we have said to the Northern Times' reporter, “The request for additional evidence will put more strain on our community resources, but we will try to comply."
This request for additional information comes over 16 months since the Public Hearing in Embo and over 6 months since the "Final" Report from that Inquiry was sent by the Reporters to Scottish Ministers. It is nearly 2 and a half years since The Highland Council APPROVED the application for Coul Links… We will wait to see what additional information is being asked for!

Developers behind the proposed Coul Links golf course have until March 31 to confirm whether they will carry out further ecological work.

24/02/2026

We would like to give our sincere thanks to these two true Local Heroes - and old classmates from Dornoch Primary School and Dornoch Academy, who have both done so much to help C4C since we started campaigning for Coul Links, over 5 years ago.

Jim McGillivray, our local Highland Councillor, has backed his constituents at every opportunity, written brilliant articles in local and national papers, and helped us present the case for Coul Links to the powers that be in the Highland Council and in the Scottish Parliament. He could not have worked harder for his East Sutherland and Edderton constituents. Jim is unfortunately on long term sick leave due to stress and overwork, and consequently expects to retire in 2026. We would like to wish him a very happy retirement.

David Bell CBE, Professor of Economics at Stirling University, adviser to Scottish and UK governments, and ex-Captain of Royal Dornoch, wrote the "Economic Impact Assessment" for Coul Links, which was required for our planning application - FOR FREE, such is his belief in, and desire to help C4C be successful. How amazing is that?

Who would have thought it, way back when they were just wee Davie and wee Jim in short trousers at Dornoch Primary!
Thank you so much. We could not got so far without either of you.

16/02/2026

What IS stopping Scottish Ministers from making a decision on the Coul Links development which they “called in" to Edinburgh?

1) The development is very popular locally, in East Sutherland. 70% of people voted in favour of it in a local ballot
2) The Highland Council's Planning Committee have approved it. (Twice)
3) It will transform the economy of the Northern Highlands, creating up to 400 more jobs
4) It will help stem the local "Depopulation Emergency"
5) It will bring in c. £50m of private inward investment, at no cost to the public purse
6) It will "develop" less than 1% of the SSSI for a golf course
7) And, in return, it will provide significant money (c. £500k in 1st 3 years) manpower & management required to fully remediate and sustainably protect Coul Links, of which >25% is currently lost under a carpet of invasive species. (NatureScot spent £0 on it in 2025)

Honestly, for any reasonable person, what's not to like?

Could it be that Ministers haven't got the b**** to stand up to unelected NGO's, such as the RSPB, who have chosen to campaign against Coul Links in the most cynical, dogmatic, fact-free way possible? Is this really how we want our democracy to work???

Sorry, but WE don't.

John Swinney MSP Maree Todd MSP Kate Forbes MSP Ivan McKee MSP

14/02/2026

We thought it might be helpful to be reminded of our environmental vision for Coul Links.
The first pic here is a map of Coul Links SSSI in 2021, showing the spread of invasive species. You can see that 26% of the whole area (the red bit) was "overwhelmed by invasives" - with over 95% cover. This area is effectively LOST, as the species for which Coul is protected cannot thrive there. A further 7% of the land had "invasives dominant" at over 50%. The green areas are the most precious ones, as there, invasive species are at less than 10%, so the rare fauna and flora which makes Coul so special can flourish. This was 5 years ago, and sadly, the site is now significantly worse, because NatureScot does not have enough money to manage it properly. In fact, they didn't do ANYTHING AT ALL on Coul in 2025!!

The second visual shows the protected part of Coul Links as it could be, following the construction of an environmentally sensitive golf course. Yes, there would be a small part of the land (10%), where the habitat will be "modified" by being mowed for fairways, and an even smaller area (1%) where the natural habitat would be lost for greens and tees, but the rest of the site could be wholly restored and managed - under NatureScot's direction, but using the manpower, machinery and money generated by the golf course. It is estimated that this will cost around £500k in the first 3 years, and not one penny would come from the state.
None of the organisations that oppose Coul Links golf course have a plan which could restore and protect Coul Links for the future.

Our vision is a highly positive one, for commerce and nature working together for the good of the planet.

SCOTTISH MINISTERS: All you have to do is SAY YES!
John Swinney MSP

11/02/2026

The Highland Council has indicated a desire to appoint the Coul Links Golf Course development as an “anchor organisation” for Community Wealth Building in East Sutherland. We believe Coul will be the only private sector organisation in the Highlands (and possibly in Scotland) with this status.

Following the passing of the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill at Holyrood earlier today, we implore Ivan McKee, the Minister responsible for planning, to grant planning permission for the Coul Links development as soon as possible to allow this to happen.
In addition, the housing planned for Embo would be a significantly enhanced development if the landowner had the comfort of knowing that Coul Links was approved.

A Bill is a proposed Act of the Scottish Parliament. A Bill that is introduced in the Scottish Parliament is scrutinised and debated by MSPs.

10/02/2026

Unluckily for East Sutherland, on Friday 13th February it will be 800 days since a world-class Golf Course at Coul Links was given planning approval by the Highland Council - for the second time.

Yet well over 2 years later, work still cannot begin on creating this course, which would be economically and environmentally transformative to the area, bringing about £50 million in private investment and 400 much-needed jobs. PLUS it would provide the money required to remediate a very degraded environment at Coul Links - which has not been forthcoming from any other source, public or private.

This is an enormous insult to the concept of Local Democracy, which featured so prominently in the SNP's last manifesto. The people of East Sutherland voted 70% in favour of Coul Links in a formal community ballot in 2021. Our elected Councillors backed up their constituents in 2023, having reviewed the new community-driven plan for an eco-course. Yet the Scottish Government "called in" the decision to Edinburgh and commissioned a Public Hearing in November 2024.

In order to represent the Community at this Hearing, Communities for Coul had to raise/crowdfund for over £250k, a truly massive sum for a small community group.

The "Report" from the Hearing took an age to produce, but landed in Edinburgh in late August 2025 - since when...... NOTHING. This small, Highland community has put its trust (and money) into the Scottish planning process, but feels it has been treated with utter contempt by the powers that be in Edinburgh.

Will we really have to wait till after the election?? John Swinney MSP REALLY???!

03/02/2026

We received an email recently from one of our very kind Crowdfunders, who happens to be from the USA.
He eloquently made the point that the shockingly delayed decision from Scottish Ministers regarding Coul Links, does not bode well for the development of new projects - AKA GROWTH in Scotland. In fact, it sends out a terrible, "do not bother wasting time trying to invest here" message to the rest of the World.
This is something we hear day in/day out from potential investors.

Remember, the Coul Links development requires NO public money, will generate up to 400 much-needed jobs for young people in the Northern Highlands, AND restore an internationally important habitat, currently in danger of disappearing under a carpet of invasive plants.

Shame on you, government ministers.
Maree Todd MSP, McKee MSP, John Swinney MSP, Forbes MSP, Robinson MSP

10/12/2025

Check out the newly-released Top 100 Courses in the World 2025-26 according to Golf.com. The list includes 28 courses built since 1990 - 10 of these by Tom Doak and 7 by Coore & Crenshaw.

If Coul Links FINALLY gets the go-ahead from Scottish ministers, we are confident it will take Coore and Crenshaw's score up to 8.

Just think what a huge difference that would make to the North of Scotland's reputation as a must-visit golfing destination!

https://share.google/malJOROKL6WYsoHWF

Our 2025-26 ranking of the Top 100 Courses in the World is a celebration of the greatest designs around the globe.

24/11/2025

The P&J is highlighting how Highland Council is embedding Coul Links in its future planning. They are recommending the new housing linked to the course be included in their "Masterplan Consent Areas" and that Coul Links be the first private sector organisation to become an anchor partner for "Community Wealth Building".
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highlands-islands/6898705/coul-links-landowner-30-homes-golf-course-approved/

08/11/2025

Next Wednesday night, it will be a full year since Jimmy Yuill made this moving statement regarding Jake Chambers' emigration to Canada at the Coul Links Public Hearing.
Jake has just sent C4C a WhatsApp:
"Who would have thought we would still be waiting for a decision on Coul? It's nothing short of disgraceful. But I still pray we get the right outcome in the end.
If we don't, I'm never coming back!"

Please, Scottish Ministers, do the right thing - and do it SOON!!