Loch Leven Heritage Trail Upgrade and Repair

TRACKS are pleased to announce that they have secured the funds from Perth and Kinross Council, Paths for All and the Gannochy Trust to carry out Phase 2 of repair and upgrade work to the Loch Leven Heritage Trail between Findatie and the Boathouse in Kinross. The work, at a cost of £194,000 for this 8km section, is expected to commence in the second half of February 2024 and be completed by the end of April 2024. During this period this section of the Trail will be closed to all users.

Work will commence on Monday 26th February. During the period of works the Trail will be closed between the Boathouse pier and Todd and Duncan, Kinross and the Sluice House gate at Findatie.

The only practical diversion whilst the Trail is closed will be via the local public roads. We apologise
for any inconvenience this may cause.

We will provide updates on the progress of the work both here and on our Facebook page.

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Phase 1 of work to upgrade and repair the Loch Leven Heritage Trail will took place between 1st February & 27th April 2023 and works have now been completed. Upgrades and repairs were made to the path between Kirkgate Park and Pow Burn (below Loch Leven’s Larder).

About the upgrade and repair

Eight years after the completion of the Loch Leven Heritage Trail, work to upgrade and repair the circular route is underway. The 21km Loch Leven Heritage Trail was built over an eight-year period with the last section built in 2014. The trail was built as an all-abilities path, suitable for walkers of all ages and abilities, cyclists, runners, and wheelchair and motorised scooter users and is used extensively by the residents of Kinross-shire and visitors to the area. The trail is a great asset for the community and local businesses that have either been established or expanded to provide services to users of the trail.

The last visitor survey was carried out during 2023 when there were an estimated 314,860 visitors, up from 208,000 in 2015, 122,000 in 2009 and 108,000 in 2011.

Scheduled upgrade and repair work

The path surface has reached the stage where most of the 21km trail needs to be repaired. This repair work is mainly resurfacing, but some sections require a more substantial upgrade to alleviate localised flooding and rutting, and to help retain the Trail’s all-abilities status. A three-year programme of works has been agreed by TRACKS with Perth and Kinross Council, RSPB, and Nature Scotland.

The first phase of the programme has now been concluded with the upgrade and repair of a 5km stretch from Kirkgate Park to Pow Burn completed.

This section is part of the National Cycle Network and works were scheduled for 2022/23 with a budgeted physical build cost of £162,000, established through a tender exercise. Work was conducted between February and April to allow the works to be conducted outwith the peak usage months and to limit disturbance to ground nesting birds and birds feeding near to and/or roosting on the Loch.

Contribution, funding and donations

Contributions for the funding for this first phase were committed by Perth and Kinross Council, Paths for All and The Arthur & Margaret Thompson’s Charitable Trust. Contributions for the funding of the second phase have been committed by Perth and Kinross Council, Paths for All and the Gannochy Trust.

The Rural Access Committee of Kinross-shire (TRACKS) are the project managers for the programme of work and have drawn up the specification, tendered the work, raised the funds and will be managing the onsite physical works. TRACKS is a registered charity and was established in in 1992 to identify and carry out projects which would enhance the local environment of Kinross-shire and Glenfarg.

To help with the cost of the repair work, the maintenance of path links to the LLHT, and to support wider projects to improve rural access in Kinross-shire and Glenfarg, TRACKS are seeking donations from the local community, local businesses and visitors to Kinross and the Trail. Charitable donations can be made here.

Lochend Farm Shop – New path link to the Loch Leven Heritage Trail now open

The aim of the project was to create a new 330m footpath link to the Loch Leven Heritage Trail (LLHT) from the Lochend Farm shop and café. 

This will allow visitors to the farm shop to park and access the LLHT and conversely walkers on the LLHT to divert off the trail to the Farm shop for refreshments and then to return to the trail to continue their walk. The path was completed in January 2023.

The path starts opposite the Lochend Farm shop and runs parallel to the B920 to the Glider Centre entrance road. There is then a short section (100m) on the B920 to the Levenmouth Farm entrance road. The farm road is then followed through the Carneil Homes development
and onto the LLHT.

TRACKS worked with father and son Michael and Martin Silvera, the owners of Lochend Farm to secure the planning permission and funding from Perth and Kinross’ Community Environment Challenge Fund and Scottish Government’s Rural Payments Improving Public Access Fund.

Wallace Park – Glenfarg

TRACKS worked with The Friends of Wallace Park to install a 280m tarmac footpath in July 2021 in the park as part of wider improvements.

The plans drawn up by Perth and Kinross Council with Community input included the extension of the children’s play area, an adult gym trail, extension of the path to include the whole of the park area, additional picnic benches, community park notice board and additional planting and landscaping including a wetland area.

Learn more about the project here.

See the News coverage here.