Glenbarr Community Development Association

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Glenbarr Community Development Association

GCDA supports the community, environmental and economic development of the local Glenbarr area.

03/06/2026

🌿 𝗗𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝘂𝗶𝗲: 𝙏𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙚 𝙏𝙤𝙙𝙖𝙮, 𝘾𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙊𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬 🌿

If you've passed Dal an Duie recently, you'll have seen the significant progress being made on the new community car park. With the permeable surfacing now largely installed and final works underway, we're getting closer to opening a valuable new community asset for residents and visitors alike.

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Planning permission has now been secured and works have started for the next phase, allowing the wider Dal an Duie vision to continue moving forward. Over time, the area will evolve into a richer community space, with new woodland planting, accessible paths, habitat creation, event space, seating areas, riverside access improvements, and a direct connection into the Community Woodlands.

The planned path network, started this work by contractors Gordon Baillie Contracting Ltd will link the car park, field and woodlands together, creating a more welcoming and practical way to access the wider Dal an Duie landscape. The aim is not simply to create infrastructure, but to provide a space where people can walk, explore, relax, learn and connect with nature.

The project has always been about more than a car park. It is about improving access to the area's natural assets while creating opportunities for community use, biodiversity enhancement and future activities for residents and visitors alike.

It's encouraging to see the long-term vision beginning to emerge on the ground, and we look forward to sharing further updates as the project continues to develop.

22/05/2026

🌿 Dal an Duie Begins to Take Shape

Work at Dal an Duie is continuing to move forward at a great pace, with contractor Baillie Contracting Ltd now progressing the project into the next key construction stages.

Over the past couple of weeks, the site has been transformed from an open field into a clearly defined and functioning construction site, with excavation, drainage infrastructure, kerbing, and base preparation all now well underway. In recent days, installation of the permeable Bodpave surfacing system has also begun in parts of the site - a major milestone in the build.

We also want to highlight the beautiful new dry stone walling now taking shape at the entrance. This work is being carried out by local residents, whose craftsmanship is already adding real character to the space. We’re incredibly fortunate to have local skill and care helping shape such an important community project.

🚗 Traffic Management Reminder
Temporary traffic management remains in place on the Barr Glen road between Killegruer Farm and Glenbarr Abbey while works continue. The road remains fully passable under a Give and Take arrangement, but we ask all road users to continue taking care in the area.

A huge thank you again to the community, and anyone else impacted, for your patience and support while these works progress.

05/05/2026

🚧 Breaking Ground at Dal an Duie 🚧

Work is now officially underway at Dal an Duie, Glenbarr, with Gordon Baillie Contracting Ltd on site from today to begin the initial phase of the project. Early focus will be on setting up the site and forming the new entrance, laying the foundations for the car park works to follow.

There is already in place temporary traffic management in place on the Barr Glen road between Killegruer Farm and Glenbarr Abbey. The road remains fully passable, operating under a give and take system, but we ask all road users to take extra care when travelling through this section.

GCDA are excited to see many years of consultation, planning and project development turn to something tangible on Dal an Duie and we look forward to sharing progress as works continue. Thank you for your patience and cooperation while the team gets established on site.

24/04/2026

Come along and support our great wee school at their Rural School Open Day on Saturday 2nd May.

There’s a full day of fun activities planned, with plenty to enjoy while discovering what makes learning at Glenbarr Primary School so special.

Free admission for all - everyone welcome.

19/03/2026

On Saturday 14th March, a small Glenbarr group continued our Community Hub learning exchange with visits to Dunaverty Village Hall, Gigha Hotel (IGHT) and Gigha Village Hall.

These were brilliant visits closer to home - not just to have a look round, but to hear straight from the people involved about what makes these places work (and what can be harder than it looks). We talked through how they’re run, how they balance community use with keeping the doors open, and the kinds of practical decisions that make day-to-day life easier.

What we’ve picked up will help shape the next stage of work on Glenbarr’s Community Hub as we move further into development through 2026.

Huge thanks to our hosts for the welcome, openness and time: Dunaverty Hall, Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust and Isle of Gigha Village Hall.

26/02/2026

Our Community Hub learning exchange visits continued last Saturday with visits to Craignish Village Hall (Adfern) and Ardrishaig Public Hall.

These trips are about learning from places that are already doing it well - how they’ve developed, how they operate day to day, what’s been worth investing in, and what they’d do differently. The detail we pick up on these visits will help shape the early scoping and planning work for Glenbarr’s Community Hub as the project moves into development through 2026.

A huge thank you to our hosts for the warm welcome, openness and time: Craignish Village Hall, Ardfern and Public Hall, Community Trust as well as those from Glenbarr's community who also gave their time.

20/02/2026

Access to the Community Woodlands at Dal an Duie is restricted today (20th February 2026), and on any day our felling contractor is on site.

This is non-negotiable and is in place for public safety while works are underway.

🚫 𝐍𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐥
🪧 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞
⚠️ 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐝𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬

Thank you for respecting this boundary so the work can be completed safely and without disruption.

10/02/2026

Last week a small community group from Glenbarr took part in a learning exchange, visiting community hubs in Oban, Mull and Coll and hearing - direct from the people running them - what it really takes to deliver and sustain a hub that works in a rural setting.

Glenbarr’s Community Hub is a long-term GCDA project to create a multi-use space that can support local activity, services and new opportunities in Glenbarr - providing benefit for Glenbarr, west coast communities, the wider Kintyre community and visitors alike. With the project expected to move into active development during 2026, these visits are helping us make better decisions early and avoid expensive mistakes later.

The visits were a real success and will directly inform early project scoping and the Phase 1 brief, business planning, and community options appraisal. Three themes came through clearly: keep community access affordable, build a mix of reliable income streams to keep the doors open, and design around the day-to-day reality so the place stays busy without becoming an operational burden.

In the coming weeks, Glenbarr will be holding further learning exchange visits to locations around mid-Argyll and Kintyre to further our learning of what works and what doesn't in areas closer to home.

A huge thank you to our hosts for the welcome, honesty and time: Oban Communities Trust - The Rockfield Centre, Mull and Iona Community Trust, and Development Coll - An Cridhe

22/01/2026

🎥 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞: 𝐆𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐫 𝐃𝐨𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐭 – 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐌𝐞𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Back in November, the Glenbarr Doocot became a hive of activity as urgent remedial works got underway - bringing together skilled conservation professionals, volunteers, and the wider community.

Scottish Historic Buildings Trust have now released a short film capturing those works on site: the careful repairs, the teamwork, and the incredible community effort that helped stabilise this historic structure and secure its future.

From hands-on volunteering to behind-the-scenes conservation, the video reflects what’s possible when local people and specialist partners work together to protect Glenbarr’s heritage.

15/11/2025

Yesterday marked a truly memorable final day on site at the 𝐆𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐫 𝐃𝐨𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐭, as our ten days of urgent repair works came to a close in the best possible way.

The day was full of life and laughter as volunteers, families, Glenbarr Primary School and supporters of all ages joined us for our 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐲, filmed by 𝐁𝐁𝐂 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐚 who captured the spirit of what this project has been all about — community working side by side to safeguard local heritage.

Amidst the activity came an extraordinary moment: volunteers, working alongside our archaeologist, uncovered what appears to be the 𝐃𝐨𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐭’𝐬 𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐫 — 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭. This exciting discovery will guide the next stage of community-led work as volunteers continue to carefully uncover and document it in the coming weeks.

Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who’s played a part — from those who lifted a trowel to those who cleared the site and helped with heavy lifting. Special appreciation goes to Richard Fraser and Mikey of Limerich Ltd, whose skill, dedication, and guidance throughout the project have been invaluable and Angela at Scottish Historic Buildings Trust for project managing through the urgent works programme.

This phase may have finished, but the work — and the story — continues.

💚 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐠𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞!

Be sure to catch us on BBC Alba on Monday evening's news!

Address

Glenbarr
Tarbert
PA296UT

Website

http://www.glenbarr.org.uk/

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