Ryder Cup: Gleneagles views ‘spoiled’ by turbines

BREATHTAKING views near Gleneagles – the 2014 Ryder Cup venue – are being spoiled by more than 150 wind turbines, claim opponents.

There are more than 150 turbines within a 20 mile radius of the golf resort. Picture: Ian Rutherford

Large wind farms are clearly visible from many routes to the resort, and turbines can be seen from within the grounds of the hotel itself. 

There are now more than 150 within a 20 mile radius of the golf resort with many more in the pipeline, including six at nearby Ochil Hills, Perthshire

Campaigners and politicians are worried about the impact this could have on tourism when visitors come to Gleneagles for this year’s Ryder Cup.

MEP Struan Stevenson said: “Tourists coming for the Ryder Cup will be shocked and appalled when they see how the landscape has been vandalised by wind farms.”

But Joss Blamire, senior policy manager for Scottish Renewables, said there is no evidence wind farms have significant impact on Scottish tourism figures.

He said: “A poll last year found 69 per cent of respondents said their decision to visit an area of Scotland would not be affected by the presence of a wind farm.

“We are confident that the Ryder Cup and other major events planned for 2014 will be a great success.”