Parking upgrades at iconic forestry spots help curb road danger

The increased parking spaces at those sites, including Glen Orchy and Strone Hill, mean fewer vehicles are pulling up on the side of the road, says Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS)

The work, funded by the Scottish Government’s Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund via Argyll and Bute Council and VisitScotland, has added more car and motorhome parking at the car parks across the glens and has seen the installation of waste disposal facilities at the Bridge of Orchy and Strone Hill sites.

Car parks at Glen Lochy and Strone Hill car parks have now doubled in size.

FLS Visitor Services Forester Sarah Hunt said: “This area is rightly very popular with visitors to the west of Scotland for the rich history, pristine waters, mountains and ancient pinewoods. However, this popularity had been putting pressure on the existing facilities and leading to unsafe parking. 

“The Bridge of Orchy site has had a major facelift. It has been transformed from being a small informal pull-in area to supporting six campervans or self-contained motorhomes for overnight stays, more than 16 car parking spaces and offering a chemical waste disposal facility. These improvements make the Bridge of Orchy car park the perfect base for people to begin their non-motorised adventures in the glen. 

“Since the completion of the work and the increased capacity of FLS car parks along the A85 we have noticed a significant decrease in the number of cars parking along the side of the road.”

Path improvements linking the car parks to the surrounding area have also been made.

Bike racks have been fitted and new interpretive panels are in place to tell the history of the area and provide information on the wide variety of plants and wildlife to be found.

The Bridge of Orchy, Strone Hill and Glen Lochy sites are part of FLS’ popular ‘forestryandland.gov.scot/stay-the-night&source=gmail&ust=1732181421957000&usg=AOvVaw0r9htu9INx2mbWa81wGoFq">Stay the Night’ scheme.  open for visitors in self-contained campervans and motorhomes looking for an overnight stopping place this winter.

Sarah added: “The upgrades and new work will enhance people’s experience of this stunning Scottish landscape of mountains, Scottish rainforest including mature oakwoods and Caledonian pine forests, rivers, waterfalls and Gaelic history.

“We have already seen how it has begun to help ease parking issues risks and the hope is that next summer, pressure from campervans will be reduced through Glen Orchy and Glen Lochy, with visitors making use of the expanded sites.”