Plans for Bungee-jumping venue in Perthshire
View from the Garry Bridge
Perth and Kinross councillors will today meet to decide whether to approve plans for the construction of the UK’s first dedicated bungee jumping platform.
The structure would be built from the Garry Bridge (on Walkhighlands’ Bealach na Searmoin walk between Pitlochry and Killiecrankie). A company, Highland Fling, has been set up especially to promote the development.
Phillip Riddle, chair of VisitScotland, was reported on the BBC as stressing the economic importance of adventure tourism, “whether it’s climbing, or walking, sailing, or bungee jumping”, whilst the John Muir Trust warned that there is a danger that such developments could harm the wild landscapes that attract visitors.
UPDATE: 21/1/2010 The scheme has now been given approval and is likely to start operating in May. Perth and Kinross councillors did impose a number of conditions, including one prohibiting jumps before 10am and another stating there can only be only three jumps a month after dark. The platform must be completely removed and the bridge fully restored if the project is not a commercial success.
January 21st, 2010 at 10:22 am
Are they serious!!!!?
This is one of the most visited beauty spots in Scotland, noted for it’s wildlife, peace, tranquility and historical significance and it’s proposed to turn it into some fun fair Scotland! A succesion of screaming individuals dangling on a piece of elastic is not adventure tourism, it’s a desecration of a precious environment for the sake of profit. This is National Trust for Scotland property, where are they for goodness sake, whose stated aim is to protect and conserve Scotlands cultural and natural heritage.
This beggars belief and must be stopped
January 21st, 2010 at 7:27 pm
He said that, increasingly, visitors wanted to do more than simply enjoying the scenery when they came to Scotland.
“They want to do something with, effectively, the scenery as a back-drop,” he said.
“So adventure tourism – whether it’s climbing, or walking, sailing, or bungee jumping – fits in spectacularly well.
“It allows people to do something exhilarating and thrilling but in an absolutely magnificent setting.”
According to VistScotland then walking is pretty much the same as bungee-jumping. Who benefits from providing these cheap thrills? – maybe they should speak to the folk at Aberfoyle – how much does the zip slide there bring in to the local economy – bugger all. ‘The scenery as a backdrop’ – Jesus H.
January 28th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
I work within the adventure tourism and over the last ten years the vast majority of my work has moved from guiding walkers and climbers to taking people canyoning, gorge walking, white water kayaking, bridge swinging and coasteering. These activities take people through landscapes that no path can take you. Bungee jumping is one of many of these sports. When people come on holiday to do these activities they spend far more money in the local communality than is given credit for. Food, accommodation, taxis and all the things that you spend money when on holiday. And for spoiling the natural buitey. Then we must remove the roads and bridges and any other man made objects. Then we will let all the trees grow back on all the mountains and hills. We will remove car parks and tracks that helps on to get to these places of beauty. If its peace and quite you want then Killiecrankie ain’t the place A9 spoils that. If you really want to see the real wild beauty of Scotland your going to warm your boots up a wee bit more.