The Highland Council has successfully obtained a Path Order for The Peffery Way to enable the continuation of works to build the all abilities walking and cycling route from Dingwall to Strathpeffer.
The Path Order confirmed today (Wednesday 1 February 2023) by the Scottish Government is only the second order to be required since the enactment of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. The Path Order became necessary after negotiations with landowners failed to proceed.The Highland Council was able to assist the community led Peffery Way Association (PWA) by using its powers in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act to obtain obtaining the Path Order that will allow a vital link of 161m at the Dingwall end of The Peffery Way running 3.6 miles (6 km) from Strathpeffer to be constructed using funds granted to the PWA.
Dingwall and Seaforth Area Committee Chair, Cllr Graham MacKenzie said: “The Peffery Way offers an all abilities, foot and cycle path between Dingwall & Strathpeffer and is a community led project that has been under construction for five years now with just over 90% of the route constructed. It’s great news as it sets to offer environmental and health & wellbeing benefits to the community, offering a safe active travel route between Dingwall and Strathpeffer.”
Peffery Way Association Chair, Ron McAulay said: “The PWA are delighted that this Path Order has now been confirmed and are very grateful to The Highland Council for their support and work in presenting the Path Order to the Scottish Government. We will now continue to work with the Council to get the barriers at the Dingwall end of the path removed and the path constructed over this short section.
“Once complete, we will have one remaining section of the path to open-up and build. We are working on obtaining permission for this section, along with raising the necessary funds to carry out the remainder of the works to complete the route.”
The path order can be read on The Highland Council website.
More good news is that they have also been allocated a grant for funds to build this east end section from Highland Council. It’s from the Community Regeneration Fund.
More information on The Peffery Way can be found here
Frustratingly the only bug bear now is the bit in the middle.
It’s such a shame that the Highland Council can’t help with that hurdle, or should that be barricade!
Where can I pick the path at Dingwall end to walk through to Strathpeffer?
Response for James MacPherson. James the path starts at the end of a small cul de sac that you can access from Mill Street in Dingwall. If you are travelling from Strathpeffer into Dingwall and you go past Frank Nicol’s garden centre, cross over the railway crossing and the cul de sac is the first on your right at a house called Victoria Lodge.