Brief History
The Cairngorms National Park was officially opened in September 2003, despite recommendations by the Scottish National Heritage to include the Perthshire region of the Cairngorms in the park boundary, it was omitted by the Scottish Government of the day.
Local tourist representatives along with Perth Kinross Council campaigned for the boundary of the Cairngorm National Park to include the Perthshire region in the park boundary.
Hear the Blair Atholl joins the Cairngorm National Park speaches.
After 7 years and a change of government, Blair Atholl, Calvine and Killiecrankie are now included in the Cairngorm National Park. The official opening taking place on Monday 4th October 2010 by John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth and constituency MSP for North Tayside.
When locals learnt the Perthshire region of the Cairngorms was NOT to be in the Park boundary, on the 9th December 2003 the 'Blair Atholl Gateway to the Cairngorms' groupwas set up. (The group was made up by representatives of the Blair Atholl Community Council, The Blair Atholl and Struan Initiative, Blair Castle and Atholl Estates, Perth and Kinross Council, The Blair Atholl Tourist Association).
The purpose of the group was to "explore the possibility of a gateway to the Cairngorms in Blair Atholl".
After four years of work, in December 2007 the Blair Atholl Gateway Group presented their plans to local residents of Blair Atholl, Struan and Calvine who gave an 85% YES vote in favour of plans for the new Blair Atholl Gateway Centre (click on image to left to down load the local presentation). The Cairngorms Gateway Centre is to be built around the existing Atholl Country Life Museum, Rangers Information hut and chip shop/restaurant. The Blair Charitable Trust have agreed to take this development forward in the absence of an outside developer being found or another body within the community.
To get an overview of what has been agreed, read the 'Blair Atholl Gateway Report presented to the community on the 18th September 2007.
The Gateway Centre is unfortunately still awaiting funding for its development. It is locally hoped that with the inclusion of Blair Atholl in the Cairngorm National Park funding will become available to get this important project for the local community off the ground.
Landscapes of the Cairgorm National Park
Habitats of the Cairgorm National Park
Wildlife of the Cairgorm National Park
People of the Cairgorm National Park
Top hotels, family run guest houses and B&Bs, self catering, campsites in Highland Perthshire.
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