A rights of way group is objecting to plans to upgrade a historic Lochaber hotel that it fears could affect access to the West Highland Way.
It is also concerned about the potential impact of the project on cultural heritage in the area.
The owners of the 17th century Kings House Hotel on Rannoch Moor in Glen Coe have submitted plans for a dramatic reshaping of the iconic facility close to the A82 Fort William to Glasgow road saying that “only substantial investment will secure its future”.
Black Corries Estate claims the revamp will “restore the place to an attractive, welcoming hotel” and transform it into a “year-round destination”.
The estate’s plans include altering and extending the hotel, erecting a new service building, upgrading the access road and bridge, creating a car park and carrying out landscaping works.
But ScotWays – the Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society – has submitted an objection to the proposal.
The society’s access inquiries officer Eleisha Fahy (COR) pointed out that development work would be taking place on both sides of the popular long distance walking route.
She wrote: “As a result, we are concerned to have not seen any detail about how public access is to be maintained and how site traffic will be managed during the construction phase.”
Ms Fahy also said no details had been provided on access to the site while work was being carried out on the Kings House access road and bridge.
She added that both the Kings House and neighbouring Caulfield bridge were important facets of the walk’s history as part of the military road network, which was also used by droving traffic and other travellers.
And she said the society was concerned about the potential impacts of the work on this cultural heritage.
Susanna Thomson of Bidwells, which is the managing agent for Black Corries Estates, said: “The plan is very much about access.
“The West Highland Way comes right through the area around the hotel and that has been the central point to the plan for the hotel as that’s where most of our guests come from and we want to make the best of it.”
She added that the improvements included toilets for walkers on the West Highland Way.
Ms Thomson said the history of the area was being incorporated into the improvements, adding that Caulfield bridge would not be used for site access.
