Lure of the wild proves a hit with visitors from around the world

A Highland Perthshire visitor attraction that tells the story of Scotland’s wildest places has celebrated a major milestone.

The John Muir Trust’s Wild Space Visitor Centre in Pitlochry has welcomed its 100,000th visitor through the doors.

The centre opened in April 2013 as the trust was celebrating John Muir’s 150th birthday and uses film, audio, images, stone and wood in telling its story.

Jane Grimley, the Wild Space manager, said: “When we opened, we could never be sure whether our new visitor centre would soar like an eagle or sink like a stone.

“We can now say it has been a resounding success, with an average of 95 visitors a day from all over the world.

“They love coming here to spend 20 minutes getting an insight into Scotland’s glorious landscape,” she added.

“Through our four audio journeys, they can conjure up the sounds and stories of the Skye coastline, the Knoydart peninsula, Sandwood Bay and Ben Nevis.

“They can watch our beautiful film, Essential Wildness, with its heartfelt plea to protect nature.

“And they can view spectacular images of Scotland’s glorious landscape and wildlife, and browse our specialist bookshop with its unique collection of classic and contemporary writings on land, mountaineering and ecology.

“Wild Space has become an important cultural hub for locals and visitors, hosting regular talks and book signings by some of our greatest nature writers, while the Alan Reece Gallery holds regular exhibitions showcasing the works of established and up-and-coming artists and photographers.”