A popular Scots beauty spot will be closed to the public in a bid to deter day-trippers who have been flooding the area.
Residents living near the Devil's Pulpit in Stirlingshire have been left furious by a surge of visitors over the past two months despite coronavirus restrictions being in place.
Stirling Council chiefs say their "hands were tied" and had to close the popular attraction because of a request from the landowner.
They have now implemented a temporary closure of Finnich Glen, near Killearn, which will come into place tonight at 11.59pm.
Cllr Jim Thomson, Environment & Housing convener, said: “This is a strong measure to tackle a serious problem.
“We are blessed with many rural beauty spots across the Stirling Council area but the influx of day trippers to this location in particular is causing a serious risk to public safety.
“Our hand has been forced by this and, in response to the landowner’s request, we are formally prohibiting public access to Finnich Glen with this temporary order.”
The measure has been put in place through an Exclusion of Access Rights legal order in consultation with the land owner and Stirling Area Local Access Forum.
Temporary road closures were also enforced by Stirling Council and Police Scotland since the country entered phase two of the lockdown restrictions.
These are in place at a number of rural beauty spots in a bid to protect communities from day-trippers flouting the five-mile recreational travel guidance from the Scottish Government.
Communities across rural Stirling saw an influx of visitors after Phase one of lockdown restrictions were implemented on May 29 resulting in issues around illegal parking, traffic congestion, dangerous driving and littering at various rural hot spots.
Temporary road closures are still in force at: Drymen on the B837 (to prevent access to Balmaha); Bracklinn Road, Callander near Bracklinn Falls.
Cllr Danny Gibson, vice convener, said: “I share the sense of relief that has come from the restrictions eased in Phase 2 but it’s not open season – far from it.
“Our car parks are still closed, our public toilets are still closed and it’s clear there is no infrastructure to handle the influx of people at rural beauty spots like Finnich Glen.
“People are risking their lives, and the lives of others, by abandoning their cars on corners and bad bends, then leaving all their rubbish behind for someone else to clear up. It is an utterly disgraceful set of circumstances and we have been left with no choice but to take action to protect public safety.”
Earlier this month we reported how locals near Killearn were stunned by day-trippers parking their cars in blind spots during coronavirus lockdown.
One eyewitness filmed high numbers of cars parked dangerously at the side of a rural road near the landmark.
Cars could be seen parked up on a grassy verge and jutting out onto the A84 Stockiemuir Road, forcing drivers to slow down and manoeuvre around the vehicles or come to a standstill.
Finnich Glen was catapulted to fame with the filming of hit programme Outlander.
Resident Jade Mullen, from nearby Croftamie, said hordes of sightseers had first turned up after the camera crews had been in the local area.
But now lockdown restrictions were easing she said the area has been overrun with visitors dumping their cars and leaving behind litter.
