Bennachie car park and trail closures continue

Forestry Commission Scotland is urging people to follow instructions on site signage around Bennachie as work gets underway to clear windblown trees. The main Bennachie car park has been closed since storms felled a number of trees and caused some marked trails to be shut to the public. Other car parks and trail heads at Back o’Bennachie and Millstone Hill.

Emily Holmes, Recreation and Communities Ranger with the Commission’s team in the area said: “December’s strong winds caused quite a lot of damage in the forests of Bennachie, and a number of the trails have been affected by wind blown trees.

“As a result of the wide spread damage, harvesting machines will be in operation in several areas over the next few weeks clearing the substantial amount of fallen timber. This will include areas around the Gordon way, close to the Bennachie centre and at Donview.

“We expect to have everything completed by mid-March but until then it’s important that visitors stay safe and observe any instructions on on-site signage.”

Work will start next week (27th Jan) at Bennachie Centre car park to clear damage and although the car park will be closed for most of this time, it will be open – and work suspended – on the weekend of 1 and 2 February.

On the 10th February sections of the Heather Brig and the Gordon Way will be closed to allow for the clearance of significant amounts of windblown trees and for trail repairs. The Donview will be cleared after the Gordon Way work is completed.”