A press release from Perth & Kinross Council announced the opening of the new Grandtully Visitor Management Facilities near Pitlochry earlier this month.
The development, made possible through a £375,000 award from the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF), aims to improve the experience of visitors to the Grandtully Station Park and the surrounding area.
It aims to support sustainable tourism while minimising its impact on local communities, in line with Perth and Kinross Council’s Tourism Action Plan.
The new facilities represent a collaborative effort between Perth and Kinross Council, Paddle Scotland (formerly the Scottish Canoe Association) and 12 other funding partners.
The project aims to address the growing pressure on local infrastructure due to increasing visitor numbers in rural Scotland.
The opening marks the completion of phase two, while phase three has received additional funding through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) for an education centre focused on water safety and outdoor skills training.
This £1.3 million project has been driven by extensive consultation with the local community, which identified key issues such as car parking shortages and a lack of visitor facilities.
Key features of the new facilities include:
- an additional 40 car parking spaces to accommodate increased visitor traffic
- accessible facilities, including six accessible toilets and a state-of-the-art "Changing Places Toilet"
- toilets, showers, and changing rooms available for day visitors and campers
- enhanced camping options and an active travel hub to promote sustainable tourism and reduce inappropriate camping
- installation of six fast electric vehicle (EV) charging points, as well as a campervan service point
- improved visitor information, including interpretation signage and a bike shelter with a maintenance point
