Letter to the editor

Dear Editor,
I read with interest in your November issue Mr David MacDougall’s more-than-justified plea to restore the Hermitage path on the south side of the Braan to its former glory. This public path, high above the river, formed one of the finest circular woodland walks in Scotland. From today’s Hermitage car parks, it also gave access across the A822 to that spider’s web of delightful paths leading up to the open ground and moorlands around Balhomish, down to Dunkeld’s second great waterfall at Rumbling Bridge or a return by the Birnam Glen. Many areas of Scotland would long to have such country and such walking gems.
Closing off this once-popular right-of-way on safety grounds is, of course, unchallengeable, but it is also the easy option. By its long inaction and reticence it now seems Forestry Scotland is content to wash their hands of restoring the path for all time. This would be disgraceful. It was on Forestry Scotland’s watch that the path was allowed to fall into disrepair.
Surely Forestry Scotland have an obligation to seriously examine means of making the path safe again, and unequivocally state their intentions for its future to the people of Dunkeld. Unless, of course, they have an entirely different reason or agenda they are trying not to reveal. If so it is important it should be aired now. It is around 15 years since this splendid route has been denied to locals, visitors and the fast-growing army of walkers. Frankly, that period of inactivity and silence is best described as ‘shameful’.
After all this time surely Forestry Scotland should be required to publicly state their intentions and be held to public account. Are they going ahead or not? If yes – then details and a timeframe should be provided. If they are not going ahead – then why not?
As a reminder, examined last month, only a 25-yard stretch of the path is a problem where a tree has fallen and taken the bank down with it. Two men with a chain saw and a day’s work would clear the half dozen small trees from the rest of the path and give it a touch of TLC.
Is cost the reason or excuse for doing nothing? But right across Scotland funding is being found for many, many large and small local projects, some of which won’t provide the benefits of a new Braan path. Coastal walks, traffic-free city walks, riverside walks, cycle paths, paths to provide improved communications, the repair of mountain tracks etc are all commonplace now as well as attracting funding. Why should the southern Braan path be considered differently?
Hopefully, the 15-year delay is not a case of the disinterest and apathy that can befall some senior managements of large organisations which can sometimes become too remote from their rural communities and lose perspective. Forestry Scotland’s decision to consider the matter closed could, after all, be interpreted as uncaring, aloof, high-handed as well as displaying poor judgement.

Ian Nimmo, Freuchie, Fife.

Coronavirus Emergency - Our Community Responds

Letter to the editor

Featured Stories

Regular Columns

Community News Items

Arts News

Young Roving Reporter

Sport & Active

Community Council News

Businesses & Organisations

Contact Details

Weather Update