MARCH 2013
The
Price 40p
The Voice of Balquhidder, Lochearnhead, Strathyre & St Fillans
5 Lochs Initiative The 5 Lochs initiative - for those who don’t know - is a five year project based around a newly formed Visitor Management Plan, which aims to improve the experience you will get both as a resident of the area or as a visitor. The project is also seeking to raise the standard not only in respect of how the area is being looked after, but also in the level of service everyone can expect to receive - reflecting the area’s National Park status. The 5 Lochs area comprises Loch Earn, Loch Voil, Loch Lubnaig, Loch Venachar and Loch Achray. These are the bigger lochs that help define the area - lochs that have suffered from more than their fair share of abuse over the last few decades. The Plan was officially launched on the 12th of November by Bruce Crawford at Loch Lubnaig on a cold and windswept day. Since then, there has been a lot Lochs Community Drop-in Sessions happening, with planning applications Find out more about the approved for Loch Lubnaig south and north car parks, Inverlochlarig, and 5 Lochs Project Glenoglehead car parks. Work started Learn more about the improvements at Lubnaig on the 11th February and we’re making to visitor sites. is planned for completion later this Over the next 2 months there will be summer. 5 opportunities to come in and have New visitor facilities on these sites will an informal chat with National Park include toilets and a small kiosk selling staff. If you can’t make the session food and soft drinks; informal camping nearest to you, please come along opportunities, overnight motorhome to one of the others. spaces and (gated) day car parking for There will also be an opportunity to Lubnaig on both sites (with no overnight discuss the new Cycle Way proposal parking permitted except booked between St Fillans and Lochearnhead motorhomes and informal campers). at the Strathyre, Lochearnhead and St Fillans sessions. While this work is going on, both car parks will be temporarily closed. You can drop in at any point Drop-in sessions are taking place between the times as follows: to provide additional opportunities for Killin, 26th Feb communities to learn more about the McLaren Lesser Hall 3 – 8pm 5 Lochs Visitor Management Plan and Callander, 12th March share their thoughts or concerns with NP Offices, Callander 3 – 8pm National Park staff. Strathyre, 16th April There will also be an opportunity NP Mobile Office 3:30– 9pm to discuss the new Cycle Way proposal Lochearnhead, 17th April between St Fillans and Lochearnhead NP Mobile Office 3 – 9pm during at the Strathyre, Lochearnhead St Fillans, 18th April and St Fillans sessions. NP Mobile Office 2 – 7pm Visit www.lochlomond-trossachs. We look forward to seeing you! org/looking-after/5-lochs-visitormanagement-plan/menu-id-928.html
Support your local Music Festival!
Strathyre
music festival 1/2 June 2013
This summer Strathyre is to host what will be, hopefully, the first of many annual music festivals. To find out more, visit
www.balvaig.co.uk and look out for more details in The Villagers in the next couple of months!