Angus Council has worked with The Cairngorms National Park Authority to deliver visitor infrastructure improvements of more than £70,000 at the popular Milton of Clova car park.
The aim is to provide a high-quality experience to visitors, while managing their impacts through providing better infrastructure.
Improvements to path, cycle and outdoor access networks will give enhanced opportunities to experience the natural and cultural heritage of the National Park to as wide a range of people as possible. At the same time, there is an intention to minimise disturbance to vulnerable species, habitats and sites.
The project has focused on existing flooding issues and taken measures to maximise available parking bays. Existing concrete steps, which were in a poor condition and restrictive, have been replaced with an easily accessible zig-zag pathway that offers a comfortable, gentle gradient for people of all physical abilities to get to and from the carpark. Improved accessible paths and car parking means that users with mobility issues can move around the site more easily and access the existing toilets.
New picnic tables, including wheelchair accessible tables, have been installed on firm paved bases next to and close to paths, where visitors can relax and take refreshments after a day of enjoying the National Park.
The Cairngorms National Park Authority have funded nearly 80% of the project through their Visitor Infrastructure Improvement Programme, with the Council meeting the remainder of the costs.
Colin Simpson, Head of Visitor Services and Active Travel at the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said: “The upgraded Milton of Glen Clova car park provides a fantastic opportunity for all visitors to enjoy breathtaking scenery, the fantastic network of paths, and iconic locations in Glen Clova. It also helps spread some of the visitor pressure in the area, especially around the road end in Glen Doll. Improvements to the car park for all abilities help everyone enjoy the Cairngorms National Park.”
Cllr Tommy Stewart, Angus Council’s Communities Convener, hopes work to tackle flooding at the car park will make a real impact.
He said: “The road gullies and pipe leading to the river would regularly become overwhelmed by storm water and mud, so our staff have looked to address that by putting in larger sized gravel in the flooding prone western sides of the car parks, including soakaways. The remaining surfacing has received a new top layer of whin dust (finely crushed rock aggregate).
“Part of the design solution is to take water above ground into a series of swale/detention basins within the grassed area. These swales/detention basins slow the water down through rocks/boulders and slow them further with wetland plants at the base of the swale. This allows water to naturally filtrate into the ground.
“In addition to filtrating the water, the vegetation in the swale will treat the rainwater coming off the road & adjacent farm track, removing any pollutants and silts. This solution also adds to the amenity and biodiversity with wetland plants and wildflower meadows.”
The project also includes the planting of new trees and shrubs, which will be done later this year and will help to enhance the look of the area and contribute to biodiversity.