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Daily Record
6 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Windfarm schemes are a threat to Perthshire mountain landscape say outdoors group
The upland sites north of Comrie comprise 31 turbines with some as high as 200m – or three times the height of Stirling's Wallace Monument. Two controversial Perthshire windfarm schemes would intrude into the heartland of the Southern Highlands spoiling views for miles around according to Scotland's national mountaineering body. Perth-based Mountaineering Scotland is objecting to the proposed Glen Lednock and Glentarken windfarms on uplands around 600m high between Loch Tay and Loch Earn on the border of Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. Combined they comprise 31 turbines with some as high as 200m – or three times the height of Stirling's Wallace Monument. The national body representing hillwalkers and climbers believes the neighbouring windfarms are a significant encroachment from the edges of the mountains into their interior. The windfarms would impact views from Munros (hills above 3000ft) and other popular hills from 25km or 15.5 miles away. In a recent objection to the Glen Lednock Windfarm Mountaineering Scotland chief executive Stuart Younie said: 'It would have a significantly adverse impact upon the visual amenity and overall experience of those visiting the many Munros, Corbetts (hills between 2500ft and 3000ft) and other notable hills that ring the proposed high-altitude site in this popular area and that of the climbers who visit the crags and boulders in Glen Lednock itself.' A decision to enable 'such visually intrusive development to enter the interior of the Southern Highlands should not be made lightly,' he added. The Glen Lednock scheme, Mountaineering Scotland said, should be considered alongside the adjacent plan submitted by energy giant SSE above Glentarken – comprising 12 turbines. Mr Younie said a Landscape Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) ignores their cumulative impact. The visual impact from the Ben Lawers range to the north of the windfarms is described as 'substantial and not limited to the summits.' Other windfarms are seen towards the edge of the Southern Highlands, but the Glen Lednock Windfarm 'would appear unequivocally as being intrusively within the Southern Highlands.' It would be 'a major incursion' from the Munro Ben More and 'intrude directly and distractingly' in views from Munro Ben Vorlich across to Munro Ben Chonzie. A Low Carbon spokesperson said: 'Glen Lednock's submission has been written in accordance with Scottish Government guidance, including the agreement with relevant statutory consultees on a list of other developments for cumulative assessment. 'As standard practice the landscape and visual impacts will be assessed by relevant consultees both on a standalone and cumulative basis.' The PA contacted Perth-headquartered SSE for comment.
The Herald Scotland
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Bid to save eroded path on An Teallach reaches £250k target
The project is entering its final year and the groups are keen for others to help raise a final £50,000 to ensure the work on the site can be completed. They are hoping to restore 3.2 kilometres of eroded path on An Teallach in the Highlands, with a team of specialists at Cairngorm Wildernesss Contracts already completing 890 metres of new mountain path, including 237m of stone pitching, 503m of aggregate path and 150m of 'light touch' work through bedrock to define a clear line and allow nature to reclaim eroded areas. Walking tourism contributes an estimated £1.6 billion annually to the Scottish economy, and delivers clear physical and mental health benefits, but there is no government funding for essential path repairs on privately owned land outside national parks and NGO estates. Read More Previously, EU funding was available but that was lost following Brexit and it is yet to be replaced. More than 350 tonnes of stone and other material from the area around the site has been sourced by the contractors, with six tonnes of spoil repositioned to aid landscape restoration. Work has also been done to ensure future path erosion is kept to a minimum. CEO of the Outdoor Access Trust Scotland CEO, Dougie Baird, said: "We are now in the final year of fundraising and delivery, and the target is close, but we really need everyone to put their shoulders to the wheel in the final push to get it over the line. 'Our team of path contractors at Cairngorm Wilderness Contracts are itching to get back to An Teallach to finish the year three path work, and the whole project. However, we must hit the fundraising target before that can happen.' Mountaineering Scotland CEO, Stuart Younie, added: 'We are delighted to have hit the £250,000 mark in the first two years of the campaign and are well on our way to reaching our target. However, there is still a lot more to do to deliver our ambition of establishing a sustainable funding model to support the maintenance and upkeep of our mountain paths. "An Teallach is just one of many mountains in Scotland that needs path work and long-term maintenance, and it's up to all of us that enjoy the hills to do something about it.'
