Highland hotspot aims to take great leap into extreme sport

Published on Monday 18 January 2010 21:45

A SCOTTISH beauty spot might become Britain's first purpose-built bungee jumping site.

Scottish extreme sports operator Nae Limits wants to build a 154ft high platform over a Highland gorge for thrillseekers to throw themselves from. The proposal, to be discussed by councillors tomorrow, involves the installation of a spectacular platform at Garry Bridge, spanning the River Garry, just north of Pitlochry.

The extreme sport, in which an elastic cord is tied to participants' ankles before they leap from a great height, has become a global phenomenon over the past 25 years. There are many bungees operating in UK pub car parks, but the site will be the first purpose-built platform jump, offering a picturesque setting "in the true spirit of bungee".

John Mason-Strang, the co-owner of Nae Limits, said Highland Perthshire was already Scotland's adventure tourism hotspot, and that with the addition of a top bungee site, it would soon become a leading UK destination. He said: "It is long overdue for Scotland.

"We have been running adventure sports here for 12 years now, and if I had a quid for every time I was asked for bungee, I would be a wealthy man."

Perth and Kinross Council's development control committee has heard that the plans would significantly boost visitor numbers.