Highland Council unveils £440,000 upgrade of Dog Falls beauty spot in Glen Affric amid increased visitor numbers
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A £440,000 upgrade of facilities at a popular Highland beauty spot has been officially opened.
Local dignitaries flocked to Dog Falls, near Cannich, on Thursday for the official ribbon cutting ceremony.
It follows an upgrade of the site to cope with increased visitor demand. This included extending the car park and providing disabled bays, the installation of a new higher capacity footbridge, and better footpath layout and signage.
Toilet facilities - which include disabled access - were also upgraded, and the location’s popular beauty spots were made safer for visitors to access.
“To see the transformation of this key visitor attraction is truly magnificent,” said Highland Council’s economy and infrastructure committee chairman, Cllr Ken Gowans, who was among those in attendance. “It will bring a great deal of joy to many people who can now enjoy the forest walks and immerse themselves in nature knowing that they have suitable facilities available during their visit.
The work was paid for with Rural Tourism Infrastructure funding totalling £278,000 (administered by VisitScotland on behalf of the Scottish Government) as well as money from Forestry and Land Scotland.
Forestry and Land Scotland regional visitor services manager, Paul Hibberd, and those involved in the project from VisitScotland and local community groups, were also present at the official opening.
Paul Hibberd said: “Glen Affric continues to draw a high number of visitors each year and by making these significant improvements to facilities and infrastructure, the experience for people visiting this iconic destination will be enhanced in a sustainable way.
“The work completed at Dog Falls by Forestry and Land Scotland - along with local contractors – was funded by the Scottish Government’s Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund, via the Highland Council and VisitScotland and we thank them for their support.”
Chris Taylor, Destination Development Director at VisitScotland, added: “VisitScotland is focused on the responsible growth of tourism and events. To be a sustainable tourism destination, we must ensure the right facilities are in place to cater for the growing demands of both visitors and locals.
“These upgrades at Glen Affric will help to improve the visitor experience and safety at Dog Falls, while supporting the long-term sustainability of this popular visitor destination.”
