Over 10 miles of new or upgraded footpaths and cycleway have been provided as Scotland’s first National Park’s £8.7 million Outdoor Recreation Plan reaches its halfway point.
Visitors and local residents are now able to reach more of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park following extensive restoration work on miles of new paths, cycle routes and bridges, as well as the launch of an extended waterbus service.
Loch Katrine on the Great Trossachs Path
The major development work by the National Park Authority and its partners is part of its Outdoor Recreation Plan which supports 32 different outdoor activities including kayaking, canoeing, fishing, horse riding, mountain biking and walking. The five-year partnership plan (2013 – 2017) includes 69 individual projects which range from long distance path development, repairing eroded mountain paths, to new horse riding routes and a community outdoor and water sports hub.
A key aim of the Plan, developed after a two-year consultation with communities and landowners, is to link up existing paths and villages to create new journeys for visitors and residents alike.
The work includes new stretches of path created from scratch, as well as the upgrading of old historic routes. Gentle gradients and smooth surfacing now provide enjoyable experiences for a wide spectrum of visitors and residents including those with buggies, or using wheelchairs as well as cyclists, horse-riders and walkers.
New sections of paths have been built in the following areas;
– Duncryne Hill in Gartocharn,
– Links on the new John Muir Way – encouraging visitors to come off the main route and explore other surrounding areas of the Park,
– Links to the forest at Gartmore,
– New cycle path in Strathyre,
– New off-road path between Drymen and Milton of Buchanan.
New bridges have also been installed and maintenance carried out at Lochearnhead, Strathyre and Ardentinny; opening up areas previously inaccessible to many visitors.
Bridget Jones head of visitor management at Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park said: “It is great to be celebrating the start of the summer season with a variety of new ways people can enjoy the National Park in an active way. The new routes get visitors off the busy roads and into the countryside for a quiet walk, challenging cycle or a wander along one of our many loch sides or forest trails. These new and improved paths are opening up opportunities for everyone to get out and about and enjoy the good weather and world-class scenery.
In addition the new Great Trossachs Path, which officially opened today, is a trail developed as part of a £25 million Government project to create a National Walking and Cycling Network. The path creates a link between the West Highland Way at Loch Lomond and the Rob Roy Way in Callander taking in the sights of Rob Roy’s birthplace, a military garrison and an Iron Age fort, as well as the settings for many famous paintings and poems.
For visitors wanting to take in a different view of the stunning scenery the popular waterbus services have been extended, with a new route between Ardlui and Ardleish providing access points to the West Highland Way. There will also be increased services running between Luss and Balmaha.