Minister praises tourism route

Tourism Secretary Fiona Hyslop has hailed the “great potential” of plans to create the north-east’s own version of the North Coast 500 driving route.

But she added that it was “very important that all of the north-east can benefit” from the proposed “North East 250” attraction.

The NE250 proposal was unveiled last week by Guy Macpherson-Grant, who owns Ballindalloch Castle in Speyside, and is hoping to recreate the hugely popular NC500 in the Highlands, which has generated £9million for the economy and brought in 29,000 new visitors to the area.

It would take visitors through Speyside, the Cairngorms, Royal Deeside, Aberdeen, the

“Veryimportant thatallofthe north-eastcan benefitfromit”

east coast and Moray, but there have been complaints that places such as Stonehaven and Dunnottar Castle have not been included.

At the Scottish Parliament yesterday, Aberdeenshire West MSP Alexander Burnett asked Ms Hyslop if the Scottish Government was backing the plan. The SNP minister responded: “The North East 250 is a privately developed route that has the potential to encourage visitors to experience the wonderful scenery, rich culture and numerous attractions that the north-east has to offer, from coastal villages in Banff and Buchan and the distilleries of Speyside and Royal Deeside to the vibrant city of Aberdeen.

“The initiative has not ‘come to the north-east’, it has been developed by private interests there.

“If it is anything like the North Coast 500, there is great potential to maximise its economic impact, but it is very important that all of the north-east can benefit from it.”