Dozens of community members of all ages popped into drop-in events to learn all about the proposed Stanley to Luncarty Active Travel route.

The events featured latest project proposals for a safe, off-road route through the countryside connecting the two settlements and beyond for everyone of all abilities. The smooth, all weathers path would offer health and wellbeing benefits for anyone walking, cycling, wheeling or horse riding for commuting or just for leisure.

The project team were on hand to answer questions and chat through plans with anyone who wanted to learn more.

The project team included Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust (PKCT), Stanley Development Trust (SDT) and engineers from Cycle Scotland’s Transport Planning & Engineering Limited (TP&E). Together, they have worked on landowner and community consultation, feasibility, fund raising and design work for the Stanley to Luncarty Active Travel route.

Mark Macdonald of SDT said:

It was great seeing so many familiar and new faces at these events. This path would be a huge asset to both our communities, so seeing people come out to see proposals for a huge variety of reasons – keen cyclists, dog walkers, families who love taking their kids outside, people who work in Perth – was heart-warming.

Frank Stevenson of Luncarty, Redgorton & Moneydie Community Council commented:

This route could be a fantastic resource for so many people of all ages and abilities in this area who love to get outdoors. Everyone who came along was keen to learn more about the route and look forward to exploring it when it gets built.

Cllr Claire McLaren added:

Meeting members of the communities to benefit from this project, seeing their interest in the path, and hearing their feedback was extremely productive. These route proposals are yet to go to detailed designs, so gathering public opinion will help inform the next stages.

Further information about the Stanley to Luncarty Active Travel Route project can be found in the latest project newsletter and on PKCT’s website: https://www.pkct.org/Pages/Category/stanley-to-luncarty-active-travel-route

This new active travel route is being developed as part of the River Tay Way – a new long-distance walking and cycling route between Perth and Kenmore following the mighty River Tay and connecting Perth, Luncarty, Stanley, Dunkeld and Birnam, Aberfeldy and Kenmore through a ‘daisy chain’ of community links to enable low-carbon, active travel and additional local economic income for the area.

Funding for the project came through Sustrans’ Places for Everyone programme, an active travel infrastructure grant backed by Transport Scotland. The aim of Places for Everyone is to create safe, attractive, healthier places by increasing the number of trips made by walking, cycling and wheeling for everyday journeys.

Countryside between Stanley and Luncarty