The team behind the controversial Heart 200 tourist trail are set to formally launch the tourist trail today at Loch Leven.
Looking to build on the success of the North Coast 500, a handful of business owners have come together to create a road trip route around Perthshire and Stirlingshire.
Organisers say that the tourism push will help combat the dwindling visitor figures for the area, but communities across Perthshire have voiced their fears about how the environment and infrastructure will be able to cope with an influx of vehicles.
Following a backlash in Highland Perthshire, the team re-routed a section which previously recommended travelling down a narrow country road through Fortingall.
Residents have called on the firm’s directors to take out nearby stretches close to Loch Tummel ahead of the launch, but the firm have said that their map is only there to guide tourists and doesn’t have to be stuck to.
Strathtummel resident Anne Randle explained that the lochside road is already dangerous, and more traffic would worsen the damage.
She said: “There is already quite a bit of traffic on the B8019. In addition to coaches travelling to Queens View, the Lochs and Glens coaches travel to and from the Loch Tummel hotel at Tummel Bridge.
“The B8019 is a very windy road and narrow in many places, with no formal passing places. The road condition is already quite poor and a lot of extra traffic will not improve things without substantial work to improve the road.
“The road edges are dropping away in places and it is very difficult for large vehicles to pass each other on certain stretches .”
Johnathan Stephenson, from Keltneyburn just outside Aberfeldy, believes the stretch which passes him is not suitable for sending swathes of tourists down.
He said: “Heart 200 makes use of the B846 to take its encouraged traffic through the Glen of Keltney in part ascending in zig-zag fashion through wooded surroundings where the visibility of oncoming vehicles is limited and again passing places are necessary.
“The heavily used A and B roads along the sides of Loch Tay and Loch Tummel hardly need more usage either in peak season.
“It is disingenuous to suggest that this is a suitable road to promote additional traffic onto.”
Robbie Cairns, managing director of Heart 200, said: “The Heart 200 route is purely a recommended route for tourists and holidaymakers to follow. It is by no means set in stone.
“Tourists and holidaymakers are free to travel on any public road within the Heart 200 vicinity.
“Any narrow roads will be highlighted on our website as unsuitable for larger vehicles to use, such as campervans.”
