Everyone of all ages and abilities in Kinloch Rannoch can enjoy walking, wheeling, and cycling alongside the River Tummel thanks to over £300,000 worth of upgrades to this much-loved path.

Mountaineer Cameron McNeish cutting the ribbon to open the path with project partners and local Kinloch Rannoch Primary School pupils © Ian Biggs

The Rannoch Riverside All Abilities Path upgrade project was officially opened by outdoor explorer and mountaineer Cameron McNeish on Thursday, 9 June, in the company of more than 70 residents, school children, visitors, landowners, funders, contractors, and project partners.

The project saw 700m of the narrow, uneven track alongside the picturesque River Tummel within the village upgraded to a modern, multi-user, all abilities path suitable for walkers, cyclists, wheelers and horse riders all year round. The new path will allow everyone to get in and around the village by active means, which is greatly beneficial to physical and mental health and the environment.

Kinloch Rannoch Primary School pupils at the grand opening of the path © Ian Biggs

The grand opening event included the ribbon cutting by Cameron McNeish, a gentle traverse along the route, and plenty of home-made cakes and treats at the picnic area by the impressive weir for the Hydro schemes. The pupils from Kinloch Rannoch Primary School also got to enjoy educational activities, including a treasure hunt and colouring sheets.

Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust (PKCT) managed the project with partners Rannoch Paths and Open Spaces Group (RPOSG) and Design Engineers from Cycling Scotland: Transport Planning & Engineering (TP&E).

Local walkers, cyclists and wheelers on the upgraded path © Ian Biggs

Cameron McNeish, PKCT’s patron, said:

What a fantastic day it was meeting so many incredible people and opening this path, which I can say is great to walk and cycle on! Having accessible routes like these within communities near nature make a big difference to the experience people have making those everyday journeys, be it going to school, walking the dog, visiting friends on the other side of town, or heading off on a longer trek or cycle through the local countryside. Thank you PKCT for inviting me to cut the ribbon opening the path and thank you everyone who helped make this riverside path possible for all to enjoy.

Annie Benson, RPOSG Chair, commented:

I have been looking forward to making this beautiful riverside path more accessible for at least a decade.  Seeing it finally upgraded so that everyone can enjoy the river and views is exciting.   Having an accessible path without the flooding and the tree root trip hazards is so freeing for many residents and visitors.  No longer is the path single file so it’s possible to walk beside your pal.   It was heart-warming to see so many faces, young and old, at the grand opening and hearing what a difference the path is already making for many. Thank you everyone for making our community an even better place to live.

PKCT’s Communities Officer, Bid Strachan, who managed the Rannoch Riverside All Abilities Path improvement project, said:

Working on this project with the Kinloch Rannoch community to deliver their aspiration for an all-abilities path alongside the scenic River Tummel has been so rewarding! The upgrade has been really well received by so many people of all ages and levels of mobility. Making the outdoors accessible for more people and working with communities and visitors are two of PKCT’s key ambitions, and I am delighted to have finally delivered this worthy project after 3 years of ‘chipping away’.

I want to give a special thanks to Caley Construction Limited, Transport Planning & Engineering, Annie Benson of RPOSG, and the local amenities that looked after the workers building the path, all without whom this path would not be a reality.

Annie Benson (Chair of RPOSG), Bob Benson, and Bid Strachan (PKCT Communities Officer) on newly upgraded path © Ian Biggs

Steven Psihramis, Grant Advisor for Sustrans, said:

We hope the new path will be a vital amenity for the local community and visitors alike. Not only does it provide a safe, accessible route for walking, wheeling and cycling as an alternative to the B846, the path also links to key amenities like the primary school and health centre. I would like to thank the Perth & Kinross Countryside Trust and TP&E for all of their hard work on the project. Well done!

The Rannoch Riverside All Abilities Path upgrade was graciously funded through Sustrans’ Places for Everyone programme, an active travel infrastructure fund backed by the Scottish Government, as well as SSE Renewables Sustainable Development Fund in Perth & Kinross and Avondale Environmental as part of the NPL Group through the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund. It also receives ongoing support from the Rannoch Paths and Open Spaces Group.