Drivers facing long way round due to Cairn o’ Mount works

The closure will come into effect on Monday.

Motorists are facing a lengthy diversion with the closure of the B974 over the Cairn o’ Mount for two weeks from Monday.

The Banchory to Fettercairn route, popular with both tourists and commuters, will be shut between the AA phone box north of Bridge of Dye and Hunters Hill, east of Fasque House, Fettercairn, but will be open over the middle weekend of the closure.

Aberdeenshire Council said a number of road repair works are to be carried out in the area and local teams have co-ordinated their approach to reduce the closure from a potential five-week period.

Permanent patch road repairs will be undertaken on both sides of the cairn in advance of summer surface dressing works.

Following a vehicle impact to Spittalburn Bridge, lime mortar masonry repairs will be carried out on the parapet at the same time.

The project will also involve improvement works to the car park near the viewpoint at the top of the cairn, with the project totalling around £150,000

Aberdeenshire Council’s head of roads, landscape services and waste management, Philip McKay, said: “We appreciate the signed diversion route will be lengthy and apologise for any inconvenience caused, but we will do everything possible to ensure that this essential work is carried out in the shortest possible timescale.

The diversion is via the A957 Slug Road.

The Clatterin’ Brig restaurant will be open as usual.

“The road will be open during the weekend of May 27 and 28, but road users should take heed of warning signs on the route,” added the authority.