Strathspey's most 'isolated village' to finally get link to Grantown
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
The final pieces are now in place to complete a long called for foot and cycle path that will provide links for Strathspey’s ‘most isolated village’.
Funding of £30,000 has just been awarded for the technical design stage of the route connecting Dulnain Bridge and Grantown.
The project has been led by Dulnain Bridge Community Development Trust which has welcomed the Sustrans ‘Places for Everyone’ grant allowing them to finalise the designs.
Funding for the construction of the path has come from Gordon & MacPhail, the owners of new The Cairn Distillery nearing completion by Grantown.
Dulnain Bridge currently has no safe and accessible off-road link for walking or cycling to any of the surrounding communities, or with Grantown – the nearest town.
The trust has described Dulnain Bridge as ‘probably the most isolated village of its kind in the Strathspey region’ despite being at a central point where the A95 trunk road and A938 meet.
DBCDT’s project lead Nigel Williams said: “We knew we had the funding in place for construction, thanks to a generous donation from Gordon & MacPhail and we just needed some additional funds for the detailed design work which Sustrans have kindly provided.
“It looks as if we’re now on the home stretch and the local community will be able to use this long-awaited safe path between the two communities which avoids going on the trunk road.
Ewen Mackintosh, managing director of Gordon & MacPhail, commented: “We are pleased to have been able to make a contribution which will ensure this new path is finally completed.
“It will be a great asset to the area and will no doubt be enjoyed by the local community and visitors alike.
“We are keen to encourage visitors from both Grantown and Dulnain Bridge to walk to the distillery which will be a realistic option once the new path is complete.”
The four kilometre route will be a tarmac path, separated from the trunk road and as accessible as possible for all walking and wheeling including electric bikes and motability scooters.
It will broadly follow the line of the A95 trunk road running on the north side of the road from the 30mph sign at Dulnain Bridge on the A938 and end at the 30mph sign on the B9102 entering Grantown.
The plan is to link up sections of the old A95 with a new section of path being constructed to go behind the houses on the Gaich bend before descending and crossing the Glenbeg fields opposite The Cairn Distillery.
It will then join another section of the old A95 just after Craggan Mill.
Current designs propose that the route should be a tarmac path and separated from the trunk road.
The development trust has been working with a range of partners.
Mr Williams explained: “We are very grateful in particular to Gordon & MacPhail, the Cairngorms National Park Authority visitor management team and Sustrans Scotland.
“They have all played a significant part in helping us reach this stage with the funding and delivery of the project now a reality.
“The co-operation of landowners and estates along the route has also been key to enabling the project to progress as it would have failed at the first hurdle without their backing.”
In addition, the trust has had great support from AECOM engineering consultants, Transport Scotland, Highland Council, neighbouring community councils, The Grantown Society, Grantown Medical Practice, Grantown Grammar School, and the Strathspey Steam Railway amongst others.
‘Places For Everyone’ is funded by Scottish Government to increase the number of trips made by walking, cycling and wheeling.
