This project takes pedestrians and cyclists off the busy B9006 road and will enable young people from the Sunnyside and Brookfield estates to cycle safely to school at Culloden Academy as well as providing a safe and scenic path for holidaymakers at the Sunnyside caravan park to visit the new state-of-the-art £9.3 million Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre.

The path is 2.5 metres wide and finished in an environmentally friendly material that allows rain water to soak away into the earth. It has a riding tunnel alongside through the forest section to allow horse riders access without cutting up the surface of the path. Access on the path is now possible from the Sunnyside caravan park to the battlefield and will eventually lead to Balloch.

Local Councillor Jim Crawford said: "All four councillors for the Inverness South Ward have been fully supportive of this path because we have been really concerned about the safety of individuals on these roads. This path will be a fantastic asset for the area and provide safe and healthy travel options for locals and tourists."

Les Houlker, technical manager with Highland Council’s transport environment and community services, said: "Community safety and environmental improvement are important to the council and by working together with other agencies we have been able to provide a superb resource that will encourage people to be more active by walking and cycling. That is good for their health, for the environment and will reduce road traffic. Everybody wins."

David Jardine, Forestry Commission manager, said: "We are delighted that people can enjoy cycling through our forests. This path has been constructed using locally sourced, recycled materials to minimize the carbon footprint during the process by an environmentally friendly local contractor. We made these criteria a premium as well as ensuring a high quality construction specification."

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