THE Trotternish peninsula is one of Scotland’s most breathtaking landscapes. Best known for the Old Man of Storr, the sharp, rugged landscape attracts thousands of visitors. The basalt rock, structured into columns, forms the backdrop to millions of photographs.

Across the north of Skye, the communities and townships are scattered across the landscape. One of these townships, Flodigarry, is at the very northern end of the peninsula. It was established in the 1900s, but it is very much alive today. The community is immensely proud of its heritage, language and history.

Today, Gaelic is still heard, the community is resilient and cohesive and they have big plans for the future.

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Back in 2009, the community celebrated its centenary year. During the series of events to commemorate the township, some enterprising individuals started to consider the next 100 years. What would keep the community alive? How could they pass on their culture, heritage and language? What would regenerate the local economy?

All of these questions led them to conclude that what was missing was a centre – a special, community space where they could host ceilidhs, showcase the local produce and develop courses in collaboration with Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Gaelic College.

In the intervening decade and a half, the idea has inched forward – almost entirely due to the dedication and hard work of a small group of hardy souls. It has no doubt felt impossible at times to reach the next milestone, design a community centre, raise funds, buy the land and progress through planning.

The commitment and effort they have demonstrated is consistent with the hard work of their forebears – who worked the land, in an impossible environment, at the mercy of the powers that be.

What distinguishes this community is that it is one of the very few where Gaelic still lives on the lips and in the minds of residents. When I visited this summer, I heard the language used entirely as a mother tongue.

The Gaelic medium primary school is full of young children whose Gaelic is rich and perfect. The old folks congregate in the village hall, speaking entirely in their native voice. Church services and psalm-singing sessions are held in Gaelic – not to make a political point but because it would be bizarre not to.

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And into that environment, people flock from across Scotland. I met Gaelic medium pupils from Perth Academy when I was last there, who had been brought by their teachers to bring the language to life.

The community say that there is huge demand for accommodation for students and pupils all year round, such is the level of interest in the authenticity of this Gaelic community.

Much has been made of the most recent census figures, which saw a decline in the number of speakers in so-called traditional areas – areas where Gaelic is still the natural language of everyday use. Areas like Flodigarry.

And when you engage with anybody in the region, you see just what you’d lose if you lost these communities. Culture, society, heritage and economy. They enrich Scotland. They harbour our nation’s cultural wealth.

Two years ago, I commissioned a piece of work on the economic and social opportunities of Gaelic. I was getting tired of the suggestions that Gaelic was a charitable cause, a victim, in need. Instead, I see a vibrancy and opportunity.

So much of our economic prosperity is derived from Gaelic – think of every whisky brand with a Gaelic name, think of every place that is successful today because of Gaelic speaking, entrepreneurial generations of old (yes, that includes Glasgow).

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The report provides 45 recommendations across five key sections – population and infrastructure, public sector and Gaelic Plans, communities, education and key sectors.

It applies recommendations specifically to regions of the Highands and Islands which it describes as “Key Gaelic Communities” – areas which the 2011 census recorded at least 20% of the population as having Gaelic abilities, including the western isles, Skye, Tiree, Islay and Jura.

But the biggest risk to Gaelic-speaking communities may not be resolved by language policy. Instead, it’s economic and social opportunities. The short-life working group published a paper outlining the biggest economic and social opportunities for Gaelic – housing, infrastructure and transport featured more than anything else.

And the same goes for the Trotternish peninsula. What will keep the young people there, the young Gaelic speakers? It will be housing, economic opportunity and social experiences.

The Scottish Government published its response to this report today. It is a substantial piece of work, which considers the wide range of recommendations made by the report.

Alongside the Languages Bill, which will give greater language rights, it tackles the primary risks to the language’s survival.

It emphasises the cross-society responsibilities we all have to support speakers and communities. It's everybody’s business.