New woodland walkway opens in Cairngorms National Park

The opening of a new £30,000 woodland walkway in Grantown-on-Spey today (Friday April 24) is being hailed as a fine example of partnership working at its best in the Cairngorms National Park.

The all-abilities, 900-metre long trail begins in Kylintra Meadow at the west end of Grantown and meanders through the Anagach Woods before returning to the meadow again.

The project has been brought about through joint funding from the Cairngorm Leader Project, the Anagach Trust, the Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme, The Highland Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Cairngorm Leader – a joint partnership between the Cairngorms National Park Authority, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Government, and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, whose aim is to increase the capacity of local rural communities and business networks to build human capital, and to innovate and co-operate in order to tackle local development objectives – put in £4,424 to the project.

Opening the new walkway David Green, Convener of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said: “This has been a great example of how partnership working in the park can provide fantastic assets and facilities for all.

“Congratulations to Anagach Trust for developing this walkway and for the efforts of all at the Trust who have worked so hard to make it happen.

“Paths are more than just routes on the ground. They help people exercise, enjoy the scenery and nature, provide transport links, and are often safe alternatives to pavements and roads.

“Now we all must work to encourage family and friends to use this new path, and the other routes in Anagach, and enjoy this fantastic asset for the town.”

Anagach Trust Chairman Basil Dunlop said in welcoming everyone to the opening: “We have been trying hard to improve the facilities for the community to access the Anagach Woods. We have no direct funding, so volunteers and hard work are what gets things done and I thank them all.”