A new £3.5 million visitor centre at Dunnottar Castle could nearly double the historic attraction’s annual worth to the local economy.
Owners Dunecht Estates have unveiled stunning concept images of the new building, hoped to bring the medieval fortress into the 21st Century.
But the attraction, designed with Fotheringham Homes for a spot near an expanded car park, would be accompanied by 10 houses on the other side of the Coastal Tourist Route.
Plans for a visitor centre were first touted in 2015, when only five so-called “enabling” homes were proposed alongside the facility, then priced at £1.5m.
These are needed, the owners claim, to cover the cost of the multi-million-pound centre – which would include a reception, interpretation space, toilets and disabled facilities, retail space for souvenirs and local goods, and an external kiosk to replace the car park burger van.
But the star attraction of the new build would be a cafe and restaurant space, boasting panoramic views of the ruins.
The castle, perched 160ft above the North Sea, has gained fame worldwide for its dramatic cliff-top views, and is best-known as the place where the Honours Of Scotland – the Scottish crown jewels – were protected and sneaked away from the invading forces of Oliver Cromwell.
In 2019, before Covid-19 devastated the tourist industry, 135,000 people visited the castle, once the seat of the Earl of Marischal.
Dunnottar Castle visitor centre predicted to nearly double economic benefit of one of Scotland’s major tourist attractions
Dunecht Estates and Fotheringham Homes have submitted a proposal of application notice – the first step for such a major development – with Aberdeenshire Council.
Alongside that, the first of two online public consultations, open for comment until 5pm on November 24, has been launched before formal plans are finalised.
Dunecht Estates, one of the largest rural property businesses in Scotland, shared this video on the Dunnottar Castle website, talking through their plans:
Revealing their plans, the two companies said consultants had estimated that their visitor centre would nearly double what the castle brings into the local economy, increasing visitor numbers, money spent and creating jobs.
Experts at Biggar Economics reckon the gross value added (GVA) of Dunnottar would rise from £1.5m to £2.9m every year.
And the owners claim tourists are arriving to disappointment due to the lack of facilities on offer – as Dunnottar Castle remains the last attraction of its size in Scotland not to have a visitor centre.
George Pearson – whose family bought Dunnottar Castle in 1919, restoring and opening to the public – said: “My family has a long association and close affinity with the castle, and I know that many in the local area will feel a strong attachment to it too.
“To meet growing expectations and importantly enhance visitor experience, there has been a need for some time to build a dedicated facility.
“Careful thought and consideration have gone into the concept and proposed design of the visitor centre.
“Overall, the proposals seek to provide a high-quality facility and new opportunities to showcase the fascinating role the castle has played in Scottish history.”
The “enabling housing” could prove a sticking point, with one community leader predicting anxiety for what it might mean for the green belt land down the Bervie Braes.
Despite that, Phil Mills-Bishop, chairman of the Stonehaven and North East Scotland Twinning Group, welcomed the proposals.
“Whether it is tourists from our twin towns in Athens, Alabama or Acheres on the outskirts of Paris, one of the first things they want to do is see Dunnottar Castle,” he said.
“There is no denying it is a major attraction and I support anything being done to attract visitors to it.
“I believe this is a good thing – however it needs Dunecht Estates to reach out to the community and businesses, as there will be some concern for the impact on footfall and trade in the town if they look to offer weddings, banquets and conferences.
“It would seem rather aggressive to say they will only build the visitor centre with a quid pro quo in terms of the housing.
“Ten houses will not make a huge impact on infrastructure like schools, but some might view this as the thin end of the wedge, with development creeping further down the Bervie Braes.”
Chance to put questions to Dunnottar Castle visitor centre project managers
As well as the online consultation, there will be an interactive chat hosted by the project managers on their website on Wednesday November 10, between 5pm-8pm.
The plans have been well received by North East Conservative MSP, Liam Kerr, who has faith in Scottish tourism’s role in boosting the economy as the country recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.
He said: “Dunnottar Castle is a jewel of the Mearns coast and a vital part of the tourist offering in the wider north east.
“The rugged shoreline, rich history and distinctive silhouette is known around the world and there is no doubt that has a big impact on the local economy.
“Tourism will be a huge contributor to how the region bounces back from the pandemic.”
Visit Aberdeenshire chief executive, Chris Foy, told us he looks forward to “seeing how plans evolve” as a result of the consultation.