New watchtower being brought to ‘birthplace of Scottish tourism’ Achi-News

On Monday, large sections of steel and timber skin of the new observation tower were transported by helicopter and carefully lowered into place on site above the busy Trossachs Pier.

The Sir Walter Scott Steam Trust, the charitable trust that preserves and operates the historic 124-year-old steamship Sir Walter Scott, is building the three-storey round tower with scenic views and connecting elevated boardwalks on the notable Roderick Dhu viewpoint, which was a major attraction in the Victorian era.

READ MORE: Contract awarded for new observation tower at ‘birthplace of Scottish tourism’

The viewpoint, home to two thatched cottages built in the late 1780s for artists and writers to stay and be inspired by the magic of the changing landscapes of the Trossachs, played a major role in establishing Scotland as a tourist destination. Many leading Victorian artists and writers such as Keats, the Wordsworths and Sir Walter Scott visited here and published popular works.

Loch Katrine and Scotland were firmly placed on the tourist map following the huge success of the poem ‘The Lady of the Lake’, written by Sir Walter Scott.

Like many of his contemporaries, Scott was inspired by the incredible panoramic views during his visit in 1809, and when his epic poem was published a year later, visitors flocked in their thousands to see the landscapes and scenes he so emotionally described .

Monday’s airlift marks the latest stage in the development of the lookout tower and two high-quality viewpoints above a massive rock outcrop with connecting elevated boardwalks and a restored trail. Steel and timber were transported from a field near Loch Achray and then carefully guided to their place at the top of the viewpoint.

A helicopter lifts a steel structure into position at the viewpoint above the Trossachs Pier while the steamer Sir Walter Scott prepares to set sail on one of her regular passenger cruises. (Photo: Paul Saunders Photography)

A 188-metre hand-built stone walkway with post and rail security fencing has also recently been completed to link the Trossachs Pier car park and the observation tower. The construction work on the tower and lookouts will continue over the next two months and it is planned to open to the public in July.

The project costs almost £500,000 and is supported by a grant of £231,000 from the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF) through Stirling Council which is managed by VisitScotland on behalf of the Scottish Government.

Speaking on Monday, Steamship Chief Executive Sir Walter Scott and Chief Trustee James Fraser said: “Today is another important milestone in our mission to treasure and celebrate Loch Katrine’s central role in showcasing the rich cultural and natural heritage of the Scotland to many thousands of visitors.

“When the path and tower open this summer, the public will once again be able to access one of Scotland’s most impressive and historically significant sights.

An artist’s impression of the new observation tower (Photo: Paul Saunders Photography)

“As we saw with the return of the steamer Sir Walter Scott, restored last year and back for her first full season this year, there is huge interest in Scotland’s cultural heritage, and the addition of the watchtowers will be at this classic sight. another significant addition to the Loch Katrine experience.”

Lynsey Eckford, Regional Director of VisitScotland, said: “This is an exciting week in the latest stage of development of the Trossachs Visitor Management Project, to provide a better experience for visitors with better facilities, while protecting the local biodiversity.

“Our latest insights reveal that more than two-thirds of visitors choose Scotland for our scenery and landscape, and the Roderick Dhu viewpoint will provide visitors with a fantastic panorama of the beautiful and historic surroundings of Loch Katrine.”

Leader of Stirling Council, Cllr Chris Kane, said: “Loch Katrine is a real gem in what Stirling has to offer for tourists, attracting visitors from all over the world and creating valuable, year-round jobs.

“Stirling Council was pleased to support the Trust in accessing funding from the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund to improve the facilities available as part of wider visitor management in the area. We are very pleased to see the work progressing so well on site.”

Since 1859, Loch Katrine has supplied millions of gallons of water every day to Glasgow and much of west and central Scotland. The Loch Katrine site is part of the Great Trossachs Forest and is owned by Scottish Water.