From-: Dunecht Estates
Dunnottar Castle
Aberdeenshire Council to determine £4million Visitor Centre
Proposals for a new £4million Visitor Centre at Dunnottar Castle that would transform the visitor experience at one of Scotland’s premier tourism destinations, will be discussed by Aberdeenshire Council’s Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee next week (21st January).
The exciting proposals, which were submitted back in August 2022, would importantly address a longstanding issue for the Castle, being the only attraction of its size in Scotland without a dedicated facility for the many thousands of tourists who come to visit the cliff top
fortress each year.
Whilst George Pearson and the team at Dunnottar Castle welcomed the support of Catterline, Kinneff and Dunnottar Community Council as well as their many visitors, it is disappointing that Aberdeenshire Council is recommending the proposals are refused:
proposals that would more than double the economic impact through more jobs and increased spending, with the Gross Value Added rising from £1.5M to £3.9M, of which £2.9million would be local.
Speaking about the proposals, Joseph Sellors, Dunnottar Castle Manager said: ‘’I have been amazed at the number of people who have spoken to me or my team directly, or left comments online, enquiring about when work on the Visitor Centre will start. It’s clear from the vast amount of positive comment that visitors (whether local or from far and
wide) can’t wait for the development to go ahead, ensuring that the Castle, like other similar destinations up and down the country, has modern amenities and facilities to compliment its iconic status’’.
The Castle, purchased by the Pearson family (Owners of Dunecht Estates) in 1919, and
subsequently restored and opened to the public, has remained a prominent historical
landmark for over 700 years. Dunnottar Castle has become an increasingly popular attraction and in order to service this popularity, meet ever growing expectations and importantly, enhance the visitor experience, the need to build a dedicated Visitor Centre has become
clear.
Commenting on the application, George Pearson, owner of Dunnottar Castle said: ‘’There has been a real need, for some time now, to build a dedicated Visitor Centre to meet growing expectations, accommodate increased visitor numbers and importantly, create an enhanced visitor experience. Such an investment will also ensure that this historic asset remains a popular and sustainable attraction.
‘’Careful thought and consideration has therefore gone into not only the concept but the proposed design given its unique and historic setting. As part of this, we will also provide a new footpath linking the Visitor Centre and new homes to existing footpaths and the bus stops on the A92 helping with wider connectivity to the town and further afield.
‘’If approved, it would transform the offer we can provide, delivering a café, shop,
interpretation space, toilets and additional parking, bringing the Castle in line with other key tourism destinations in Scotland. In addition, independent research has identified that delivery of the new facility will also provide increased trade for other local businesses within Stonehaven and beyond.’’
In addition to the Visitor Centre, a small-scale enabling housing development of 10 family homes, located immediately to the west of Mains of Dunnottar farm, forms part of the proposals. These new homes, which have been designed to create an attractive development that is well screened by existing and proposed landscaping, would be delivered by local house builder Fotheringham Homes.
The sale of the housing land would crucially bridge a funding gap in the delivery of the Visitor Centre and allow works on the Visitor Centre to commence from the outset.
Should the Area Committee not object, the proposals will then go before the Councils
Infrastructure Services Committee (ISC) for final determination. If approved by ISC, work on the new Visitor Centre could start later this year.