Plans to build a wind farm above the renowned Highland landscape of Glen Affric will have severe effects on some of Scotland's most cherished views and will damage the local economy, according to the body that represents hillwalkers and climbers.
The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) has objected to a proposal to build seven 119.5m (392 feet) wind turbines on the slopes of Beinn Mhor above Tomich, just south of the famous glen.
In its objection to the planning application by wind farm development company WPD, the MCofS has told Highland Council: “The proposal would severely impact on the important and iconic landscape of the Glen Affric area.”
The organisation said the area was popular with both mountain-goers and less-active tourists, and that a recent survey had shown people were less likely to return to places where wind farms were built.
MCofS Chief Officer David Gibson said: “A cluster of 120m-high turbines will inevitably act as a visual focal point and will affect the views from the entrance to the glens west of Strathglass and the Glen Affric hills north and southwest of Loch Beinn a’Mheadhoin.
“Mountaineering is a substantial contributor to tourism and recreation spend in the Highlands, and we have direct evidence from a recent survey of MCofS members and British Mountaineering Council members that hill walkers are changing their behaviour to avoid areas with wind farms.”
He added: “The Affric area is not on a through-route open to passing trade – it is a destination which people choose to go to specifically because of its natural beauty. The spread of turbines is making our extraordinary landscapes seem increasingly ordinary. People don’t come to the Highlands for ordinary.”