Over £360,000 in funding awarded to Moray to help relieve tourism pressure

MORAY has been awarded £363,298 from the Scottish Government's Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund delivered by VisitScotland.

The award contributes to the Coast to Country project total cost of £685,468, which is part of the Moray-wide staycation programme.

Facilities across Moray will be upgraded to relieve pressure on local beauty spots as the region gears up for another busy year of staycationers.

Chair of Moray Council's Economic Development and Infrastructure Services Committee, Cllr Graham Leadbitter, said: "This input from VisitScotland is very much welcome as we transform our tourism offering in Moray to ensure sustainability in our burgeoning visitor market.

"The creation of new facilities and upgrading existing ones will be hugely beneficial to the local economy and provides the support communities in Moray have asked for in recent years. I look forward to seeing the enhancements take shape as we welcome visitors to magnificent Moray."

The project in Moray is delivered in partnership between Moray Council; Visit Moray Speyside Tourism Business Improvement District; Highlands & Islands Enterprise; the Findhorn Village Conservation Company; the Three Kings Cullen Association; and Friends of Ben Rinnes supported by Seafield & Glenrinnes Organic Estates.

The project will provide upgrades to facilities at several sites across Moray.

That includes a new overnight moterhome facility in Cullen as well as motorhome parking at Ballindalloch and Craigellachie.

Two toilet blocks in Findhorn will be upgraded and reopened and a new toilet block will be installed in Ballindalloch.

A new car park and an upgraded foot path will also be implemented at Bow Fiddle Rock, Portnockie.

Meanwhile, Ben Rinnes, Ballindalloch, Hopeman and Craigellachie will all receive car park enhancements.

Finally, new electric vehicle charging points will be installed at Craigellachie, Hopeman, Cullen, Bow Fiddle Rock and Ballindalloch.