Culture & Language – curated by Deveron Projects

In Huntly, Aberdeenshire, rural arts are woven into the very fabric of the town — shaping streets, schools, and shops rather than existing solely in galleries. This is the vision of Deveron Projects: The Town is the Venue, a globally recognised model of rural creativity grounded in place, community, and collective action. Born from local initiative at a time when globalisation was challenging the vitality of the town centre, the organisation operates on the belief that everyone possesses creative power — a force that extends far beyond the walls of a gallery or art centre.

Through talks, walks, foraging, and shared meals, the town becomes a living laboratory for exploring the role of art in rural life. Artists work alongside local communities and organisations — from groups driving town regeneration and a Just Transition, to those making use of Square Deal, the community hub at the heart of Huntly’s town square. Much like a forest, the town’s creative and civic life thrives on interdependencies, cross-pollination, and big-picture thinking, revealing how art and community together can spark meaningful and lasting change.

Blue Economy – curated by Fraserburgh Harbour, Ocean Winds and the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses

As Europe’s largest shellfish port, Fraserburgh Harbour has shaped the town’s identity and economy for centuries. Today, it continues to do so, working with the fishing industry, and with the wider community, to develop a shared vision that safeguards the fishing industry’s future and explores new opportunities, including through offshore renewables and tourism.The three study trip partners capture the spirit of the 6th ERP’s theme – Rural Community Solutions to Global Challenges – through building a global network of investors and supporters, whilst remaining focused on strengthening the cultural heritage, wellbeing and sustainability of their local community.

Energy Security – curated by Udny Community Trust

Udny is a rural community in Aberdeenshire which includes the villages of Pitmedden, Udny Green and Hattoncrook. Its story is remarkable – it developed the first wholly community-owned, built, financed and operated wind turbine on the Scottish mainland. Profits from the turbine, which are managed by Udny Community Trust have transformed the area, giving rise to new facilities, projects and services which meet the needs and wishes of Udny.

Land management – curated by Marr Area Partnership & NatureScot

Tarland is a small village in west Aberdeenshire, surrounded by great tracts of farmland and dense woodland, whilst also bordering the Cairngorms National Park and some of Scotland’s most valuable nature reserves. The scale of the landscape is vast and varied, yet it gives rise to big questions around how it is used to meet many different and sometimes competing needs, from housing to food production and economic development to nature conservation. This study trip, which will include visits to a local nature reserve and to active community projects, as well as showcasing initiatives that support inclusivity and diversity in farming, will provide a unique lens on how land management, land ownership and community-led decision-making shape the future of people and the environment – topics that are at the heart of the 6th ERP’s theme of Rural Community Solutions to Global Challenges.

Climate resilience – curated by NESCAN

Huntly is a small market town at the headwaters of the River Deveron with a strong tradition of local initiative — now turned towards climate resilience. The Huntly & District Development Trust has developed Greenmyres as a multi-purpose, community-owned site and invested in renewables (including a 500 kW wind turbine), creating both a low-carbon asset and local income to support adaptation and community services.Huntly Health Walks build wellbeing, social ties and active travel, while Huntly Climate Action involves residents in retrofit, biodiversity and awareness projects. The town is also active in the North East Scotland Climate Action Network (NESCAN), linking local action into a wider regional effort.By combining local ownership, wellbeing, regional networks and skills, Huntly is shaping a “Just Transition” where the shift to low carbon also brings shared economic and social benefits.

LEADER legacy and the future of community development, curated by tsiMORAY

Along the Moray Firth coast, the village of Portgordon tells a remarkable story of regeneration and community-led development. From the legacy of the LEADER programme to recent initiatives focused on village assets, the community has nurtured a spirit of collaboration and resilience. At the heart of this transformation is Michelle Watts, who has been guiding change from the very beginning – first through her role in tsiMORAY’s CLLD programme, and now as Community Development Officer for Portgordon Community Development Trust and co-Chair of Moray Local Action Group – helping shape a vision for the village’s future.

Further along the coast, the fishing town of Cullen carries its own distinctive narrative. Once famed for its thriving haddock industry and as the birthplace of the iconic Cullen Skink, the town has embraced regeneration and sustainability with equal passion. Significant green energy upgrades have revitalised community spaces, supporting initiatives such as men’s sheds and community allotments. Volunteers, guided by Stan Slater, Director of Three Kings Community Association, are now looking toward ambitious plans for large-scale local food production, reflecting the enduring energy, resilience, and forward-looking spirit of Scotland’s coastal communities.

Population Renewal – curated by The Cabrach Trust

The Cabrach, an area on the northern edge of the Cairngorms National Park, in Moray, exemplifies rural community-led resilience and regeneration. Its history stretches back to the very earliest inhabitants of Scotland and it has a strong sense of identity, place and culture.

Responding to a need to ‘keep the lights on’ and stem depopulation, The Cabrach Trust was established in 2011. Its work focuses on three long-term goals: increasing the number of people living in the area, creating sustainable jobs, and attracting visitors who value our heritage and landscape. To achieve this, the Trust focuses on community engagement, skills development, wellbeing, and heritage-led activity. Its many projects include a community-owned distillery, heritage centre and discovery trails.

Wellbeing, curated by Change Mental Health

From crisis to community, Scotland’s North-East is showing how resilience can be built around mental health and wellbeing. In Stonehaven, the Community Collective Living Room is creating an inclusive space where people of all ages and backgrounds can connect, share ideas, and participate in activities that foster wellbeing and reduce isolation. In Banchory, The Seed Box and The Barn provide hubs for creativity, learning, and social enterprise, supporting community-led programmes that strengthen connection and nurture mental health. The National Rural and Islands Mental Health Forum, hosted by Change Mental Health, helps to link these grassroots efforts with wider networks and policy, ensuring rural voices are heard and supported. Together, these initiatives offer inspiring examples of early intervention and collaborative approaches to the challenges facing rural health and wellbeing today.

Enterprise & Rural Leadership, curated by Angus Rural Partnership

Arbikie Distillery and Lunan Bay Farm showcase a new generation of rural enterprise in Angus. Arbikie, on track to be the world’s first green hydrogen-powered distillery, follows a “field to bottle” model using crops grown on the estate. Nearby, Lunan Bay Farm—Scotland’s only regenerative cashmere farm—combines ethical farming with premium production, showing how innovation and stewardship can benefit local communities. Member organisations such as Scottish Agritourism, which supports farm diversification and visitor experiences, and Appetite for Angus, which champions local food and drink are leading the way for farmers and food producers in diversifying and strengthening local economies.

Award-winning businesses like The Gin Bothy, and community-led initiatives such as Sustainable Kirriemuir, demonstrate how rural enterprise can deliver sustainability and community benefit. At the heart of this ecosystem is Angus Rural Partnership, supporting rural communities to address their own local challenges through community-led development and rural resilience activities. The Scottish Rural Leadership Programme – administered by Scottish Enterprise – builds on this community resilience and adaptability, equipping emerging rural leaders with the skills to drive change in their businesses and communities. Together, these initiatives highlight how collaboration across sectors is creating a resilient and entrepreneurial rural Angus.

Community-led tourism, curated by SCOTO

On Scotland’s northeast coast, the communities of Portsoy and Cullen show how tourism can be a force for good—meeting local needs while celebrating heritage. In Portsoy, traditional boatbuilding, the annual Boat Festival, and landmarks such as The Boatshed, The Sail Loft, and The Salmon Bothy honour maritime history while strengthening community pride.

Cullen draws visitors with its fishing heritage and iconic Cullen Skink, while local enterprises like the Discover Cullen Visitor Information Centre and the Seafield Hotel’s award-winning ice cream bring stories of resilience to life.These initiatives reflect the wider movement championed by SCOTO (Scotland’s Community Tourism Network), which supports communities to develop tourism that is locally owned, values-driven, and sustainable. Together, Portsoy and Cullen show how community-led tourism can retain wealth, preserve traditions, and deliver meaningful experiences that sustain rural economies.