Highland glen ‘at risk’ from deluge of Outlander fans

A HIGHLAND glen that features in the television show Outlander risks becoming “a fag end in the ashtray of the Scottish environment”, the farmer who owns the land has warned after plans f or a visitor centre nearby were rejected.

David Young, who farms the land, was used to some visitors coming each year to admire the striking landscape at Finnich Glen, Stirlingshire. However, after social media users discovered where the Netflix show was filmed, numbers have swollen to 70,000 a year.

The farmer argues that the landscape is too fragile for all those tramping feet, and says litter has become a scourge with people bringing their own picnics.

To remedy this, he offered to build safe viewing platforms, a visitor’s centre and a car park, for a cost of £2 million. However, after locals complained this would make the farm into “Disneyland”, his planning application was rejected.

Mr Young told BBC Farming Today he was worried about the future of the 27 acres of woodland and dramatic sandstone gorge. He pointed out the litter and mess, saying: “What we’ve got here is an accumulation of rubbish just under a metre high, it’s got soiled towels, nappies, lots of alcohol containers.

“If we don’t get planning permission, the glen will continue to degrade and will end up as a fag end in the ashtray of the Scottish environment.”

He has support from some local community leaders, who worry the gorge is a “death trap” without proper viewing platforms.

Peter Lloyd, who runs the local community council, said: “It’s an absolute death trap with people walking down the road and along the gorge itself.”