Cearcaill na Gàidhlig links a transport journey to the language and cultural heritage of the area, to create the concept of “Gaelic Rings“. Cearcaill na Gàidhlig aims to ensure that improvements in transport infrastructure and services are integrated and accessed in order to boost cultural tourism and Gaelic language-related visitor activity, and to offer an innovative marketing opportunity to businesses undertaking cultural or Gaelic-related activity.
Following a pilot in 2007, five new Cearcaill na Gàidhlig journeys were developed in 2008, allowing wide coverage of the Outer Hebrides and West Highland mainland. Each journey has been documented by well respected authors who have a particular story to share on the journey they describe. The stories are published in books that accompany the ring and are also available through www.gaelic-rings.com the web portal for Cearcaill na Gàidhlig.
The project partners behind Cearcaill na Gàidhlig are:
- Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar (lead partner).
- Argyll and Bute Council.
- Highland Council.
- Visit Scotland.
- Caledonian MacBrayne.
- Comunn na Gàidhlig.
- HITRANS.