THERE has been continued uncertainty over a possible reopening date for one of Cowal’s top tourist attractions, which has been closed to the public since March.
Puck’s Glen was shut by Forestry Land and Scotland, (FLS), after suffering extensive damage during Storm Eowyn in January.
The popular walking trail has been featured on countless YouTube videos and social media posts by visitors, In March FLS announced that Puck’s Glen would be closed for the 2025 season, but now it seems a date for reopening next year can’t be confirmed yet.
A spokesperson for FLS stated: “Unfortunately, given the complex and compound issues that need to be addressed, we are not able to predict when Puck’s Glen might reopen.”
This disappointing news comes as FLS announced this week that visitors should continue to avoid visiting Puck’s Glen due to safety concerns.
A statement from the organisation explained: “The impact of the storms on very large, mature trees has resulted in large volumes of windblow, with fallen trees blocking the path, causing significant damage to the footpath including erosion, undercutting and higher risk of landslips, which has been made worse by extreme rainfall.”
It’s understood that FLS has been working continuously to establish what options are viable for the future, long term safe management of the site and confirmed that teams have been dealing with windblow, felled trees, hanging trees and trees that are still standing but have become unstable due to recent weather.
Gill Walker, area visitor services manager for Forestry and Land Scotland’s central region team, said; “We understand that people are upset that this much loved gorge has been off limits for such a long time. We share that feeling. It’s heartbreaking to see what is such a magical and beautiful place in its current condition. The size and precarious lie of the fallen trees, the current path condition and slope stability, together with access issues means that planning any clear up works is going to be extremely complex and costly.”
Gill added: “We would strongly urge everyone to use their common sense, think about their own safety and to please stick to the forest paths that remain open, avoiding the gorge path for the time being.”
