Walkers and cyclists of all abilities will now be able to enjoy a picturesque Perthshire walk, after a £440,000 upgrade.
The third phase of upgrade works to Provost Walk in Auchterarder will be officially opened on Wednesday, July 3 from 2pm until 4pm.
Before the upgrade works, the path was virtually impassable with a muddy, uneven track.
However, it has now been renovated into a modern, multi-user path which is suitable for walkers, cyclists and wheelchair users.
Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust is now inviting members of the local community to celebrate the overall Provost Walk project, which to date has seen £945,000 of upgrades.
The grand opening on Wednesday will include a gentle stroll down from the Jubilee Park, where a ribbon will be cut, before heading west along the 1100 metres of newly upgraded path to where it meets the A924.
Bid Strachan, communities officer with Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust, which managed all three phases of the Provost Walk project, said: “It’s been a fantastic opportunity to work with the Auchterarder community to deliver their aspirational path upgrade, and the positive feedback so far is most rewarding.
“The permission, support and cooperation of landowners Perth and Kinross Council and the Auchterarder Common Good Fund committee has been invaluable, and we are most grateful for this in enabling the project.
“As with phases one and two, solar lights have been installed along the path to allow the local community to use the path in all weathers and year-round.
“We’ve improved the access from the path to the A824, making it easier to get to the train station and the wider path network, upgraded the path beside the cemetery, and installed more benches along this section for people to take a break in the beautiful outdoors.”
Dave Keane, Sustrans infrastructure manager, added: “We are pleased to have supported Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust and the Auchterarder community to deliver this new path, making it easier for locals to get to St Margaret’s Hospital, Gleneagles Railway Station and other nearby amenities.
“The upgraded, all-weather path makes a green and pleasant route available for all to enjoy.”
Phase three of the Provost Walk upgrade was jointly funded by Transport Scotland through Sustran Scotland’s community links grant programme, Auchterarder Community Sports and Recreation, The Gannochy Trust, Auchterarder and District Community Trust, Auchterarder community facilities fund from Muir Homes, Stewart Milne Homes and Robertson Homes, the Allan King Charitable Trust, Avondale Environmental through the Scottish landfill communities fund, and donations from members of the public.
The path is also receiving ongoing support from the Auchterarder core paths working group.
