One of Perth’s most famous landmarks is set for works to protect it from erosion.
Council bosses say Kinnoull Hill Tower’s popularity with visitors has put it in a perilous state today.
They intend to lay Caithness stone to shore up the ground around the north side of the 19th century structure.
Perth and Kinross Council had to obtain permission from its own planning department for the works.
A new report on the authority’s handling of the case says a number of potential solutions were considered.
It adds: “The current proposal is considered optimal to protect the historic character and interest of the building, while improving drainage, and preventing further erosion in the long term.
“Similar paving has been used successfully in other historically sensitive settings.”
Kinnoull Hill Tower ‘subject to high footfall’
Kinnoull Hill Tower will be instantly recognisable to anyone who has crossed Friarton Bridge as the A90 skirts around the east of the city.
The Category B-listed landmark – perched on a ledge on top of Kinnoull Hill – was built as a folly.
Its vantage point overlooking the River Tay has made it a favourite with sightseers.
But the number of people beating a path to the tower is causing issues with erosion and drainage.
The council report says: “The tower and its surroundings are subject to high footfall, which has resulted in compaction and erosion of the ground between the tower and the adjacent footpath, with water ponding around the base of the tower wall.”
The planning permission will allow the council to install Caithness stone paving in this area and re-seed the gaps in between.
“Over time, grass will regrow, creating a more resilient area where footfall is highest, but avoiding a solid slab finish to ensure adequate drainage and preserve the soft landscaped setting of the tower,” the report concludes.
The council recently carried out maintenance work on Kinnoull Hill Tower itself.
That followed claims that the landmark had suffered “years of neglect”.
It was built as a ruin by Thomas Hay, the ninth Earl of Kinnoull.
He designed it to resemble the castles along the Rhine River in Germany.
Conversation