A new walking path that would link two Moray villages together is vital for the whole region to thrive, according to campaigners.
Rothes is currently one of the only areas that has no pedestrian routes in or out that avoid main roads.
In an effort to change this, and link the village to Craigellachie and the Speyside Way, a steering group commissioned a feasibility study to find out the best possible solution.
A route has been chosen that takes walkers to the River Spey, but the public is being asked to decide what type of bridge would be built.
The path steering group hope the path will make the village more viable for tourists to visit as they do not have to travel down the busy A941 Elgin to Rothes road.
Geoff Stanger, the group’s chairman, said: “We want to be able to access the whole area as currently there is a path from Rothes to Dandaleith Farm, but then the only option after that is to take to the road which is unsafe.
“We want to create a path that is safe for children and cyclists.
“Traditionally people have travelled from Rothes to Craigellachie and the only route at the moment is for them to walk on the grass verge which is totally uneven.
“Our intention is to open the area up for visitors and for locals, there are major employers at each different village and attractions which we want to bring people into.
“Rothes is the least connected place in Moray unlike all the coastal communities which are all linked so a safe route is much needed.”
The group received funding from eco-friendly transport charity Sustrans to complete the feasibility study but need to find some more cash to move onto the design phase of the project.
A public meeting yesterday was held in the village to update locals on what was getting on.
Bo Hickey, infrastructure officer for Sustrans was on hand to discuss the project.
She said: “We fund active travel projects as part of our places for everyone scheme and the end objective of this is to reduce carbon emissions by allowing more people to cycle and make them happier and healthy so we like all paths to be accessible for all.”
