Perthshire beauty spot set for £1m visitor centre revamp

Published on 22/10/2012 14:21

Queen’s View, one of Scotland’s most spectacular beauty spots, is in line for a £1 million revamp.

Forestry Commission Scotland has announced that funding from the Scottish Government will allow the agency to press ahead with plans for a major refurbishment of visitor facilities at the Queen’s View in Highland Perthshire - one of the most photographed sites in the country.

The beauty spot was named the Queen’s View after Queen Victoria visited the iconic site in 1866 which offers a stunning viewpoint looking westwards along Loch Tummel.

Hamish Murray, a spokesman for the Forestry Commission’s Tay District team, said: “Queen’s View is one of Perthshire’s, and probably Scotland’s, top scenic attractions - we get something like 150,000 visitors here every year.

“Second to the view, the visitor centre has been a focal point for tourists and visitors and it’s done a magnificent job for over 20 years. In fact it’s proved to be such a success, that we’re having to re-jig things a bit in order to better meet visitor’s expectations.

“We thought it was time for a bit of a make-over. And when better to do it than in Diamond Jubilee year.”

He added: “It will still be the same centre that people know and love but it will be a bit smarter, a bit more welcoming and more able to deal with the visitor numbers that pass through the doors.”

Under the revamp plans the visitor centre is to be completely refurbished and parking improved with more interpretation material added to the site.

A spokesman for the forestry agency explained: “The initial phase of work is expected to start at the end of January 2013. The programme of work will be phased over two years and will be carried out during the closed season from November to March. The work is expected to be completed by Spring 2014.”