The Harris Walkway was officially opened by Cameron McNeish, President of Ramblers Association Scotland on 28th June 2001. As well as leading a successful walk on part of the walkway route Mr McNeish also called for consideration to be given to designating all or part of Harris a National Park.

The opening was very much a community event with over 200 pupils from the island's secondary and primary schools taking part. At the same time as Mr McNeish performed the opening ceremony on the northernmost section of the walk accompanied by 50 youngsters and adults, other groups from the different schools walked the other 6 tracks that make up the 23 mile route.

After enjoying their walks the groups then all met up in the community centre in Tarbert where Mr McNeish gave his address. Mr McNeish opened his speech with a sentence of Gaelic which was greeted with spontaneous applause by the 240 young people and adults in attendance. He then went on to develop his theme, highlighting the value of walkers to the modern mountain economy, taking into account historical and current land use and access issues. He stated that he hoped that The Harris Walkway would only be seen as a start, and that in the future a walking route stretching from Castlebay to the Butt of Lewis would be developed. He believed that this could become as rewarding as the West Highland Way which currently generates £10m for the communities through which it passes.

He further developed his theme by calling for a new political will that would move away from its historic bias to valuing mountain land purely in economic terms and instead promote "a sustainable economy, high standards of management and effective conservation which benefit local communities as well as visitors." He closed by saying "I sincerely believe National Park status for Harris could...secure a vibrant future for the communities living here."

click here to view manuscript of speach by Cameron McNeish

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