More scenery.

A quiet walk from Colyumbridge on Friday.

This area is to become the site of a new town with 400 new houses and a school. The planning permission has been passed despite objections and despite the fact that the area sits deep in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park.

You might think that this status would protect an area but no. There are other schemes for development in many of the out lying villages, including Boat of Garten and Nethybridge which are RSPB reserves and the nesting site of rare birds like the capercaillies and the osprey.

I wonder where the population of the new developments are going to work. Inverness is the fastest growing city in the UK (I think) but it is 30 miles to Inverness, over a steep snowy hill and there is plenty of space around the Moray coast.

I think it will be second homes mostly. There should be legislation to prevent this but of course it is a sad fact that councils need income, the locals need employment and development will generate the local economy.

I have been active in campaigns before moving up here. It is now time to get involved again.