Steps to learning: Heritage walk will celebrate library’s history

A new heritage walk is being created on land beside the River Earn.

Teams are replanting native woodland around the Library of Innerpeffray near Crieff, as well as planting a spring bulb garden along the route, which will cover a section of Roman road.

The project, entitled A Long Walk for Knowledge, will celebrate the area’s connections to the Jacobean conflicts and the Wars of Independence.

Funding has come from a variety of bodies, including £65,000 from the Perth and Kinross Rural Leader group.

Additional money has come from the Heritage Lottery Fund Scotland and SSE’s sustainable development fund.

Jackie Brierton, chairwoman of the local Leader fund action group, said: “The new paths will attract more people to appreciate the Library of Innerpeffray and its unique story and heritage.

“It’s a great example of a project which combines appreciation of our local environment with the rich history of rural Perthshire.”

Lucy Casot, head of Heritage Lottery Fund Scotland, said: “A Long Walk for Knowledge is a great project, as it shows how local heritage can be a catalyst for lots of different activities and bring people together behind a common purpose.”

Lara Haggerty, keeper of books at the library, said the works would boost the venue’s appeal to visitors.

“The two questions most asked at Innerpeffray are: ‘why is it here’ and ‘can I go for a walk down to the river?’,” she said.

“With this exciting project we are aiming to answer both these questions and share the history of this tiny piece of Scotland.”