National Park reviews five year plan

The aim has been to put in context a five year development plan which has included the delivery of many projects, both large and small, ahead of its board meeting on Monday (October 24).

With 29 projects completed and 23 more underway the Park authorities say few realise the scale of transformation which has taken place in the last three years.

The Park’s outdoor recreation plan for 2013-2018 set out 69 actions and 88 aspirations said to have given the authority and its partners “focus and direction” for how to bring about improvements.

Since 2013 £5 million from a variety of funding sources has been invested, and more than 450 miles of routes have been opened up.

Major long-distance walking and cycling routes have been created, while the 134-mile John Muir Way has been connected through the National Park with the completion of the missing link on Gouk Hill.

The community-led project to open up the Loch Earn Railway Path completed its second phase in August on the mixed use path between Lochearnhead, St Fillans and Comrie.

Gordon Watson, chief executive Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park said: “Each one of these projects in itself is making an important improvement to how people can enjoy the National Park, but taken together the scale of change is significant.

“When we published the National Park’s Outdoor Recreation Plan in 2013 our aim was to transform access across the Park and get more people active in the outdoors, and it is fantastic to see that happening.

“This year has been significant in the delivery of these goals, as we see the work of the first few years of the Outdoor Recreation Plan bearing fruit on the ground.

“It has also been significant in helping improve the health and wellbeing of both residents and visitors.”