Visitors to a north-east viewpoint may be forced to wait a decade to catch a glimpse of the breathtaking landscape – as nearby tress have grown too tall.
In 1845, the fifth laird of the Pitfour Estate George Ferguson built Drinnie’s Observatory so he could watch horses racing at his private course near Fetterangus.
The 50ft observatory was refurbished by Banff and Buchan District Council in 1993, and visitors to the area have marvelled at the panoramic views of Buchan offered from the tower ever since.
But now the conifer plantation which surrounds the structure has grown so tall that view has been obscured.
Managed by Scottish Woodlands, the crop of trees has yet to mature and it could be years before the giant conifers are harvested.
Neil Stoddard from Scottish Woodlands said the plantation is mid-rotation and not ready for felling.
“We are aware of it. They’re still not mature trees but they weren’t planted by us,” Mr Stoddard said.
“The trees will continue growing. What will happen in due course is that, when they are ready for felling, we would come up with a forest plan to be approved by the Forestry Commission.
“I would be very surprised if we don’t do some mitigation for cutting back around the observatory to create the views again. But it’s a bit early for that now.”
Mr Stoddard stressed that Scottish Woodlands inherited the current plantation of conifers, and would prioritise clearing the area around the tower in the next plan.
Last night councillor and local resident Jim Ingram said the observatory was part of Buchan’s “untapped tourist potential”.
“I haven’t been in that neck of the woods for some time so the trees have grown since then,” he said. “But if they’re mid cycle, it could be another 12 years before they come down.”
Mr Ingram said the central Buchan area is a tourism “package” which is being steadily developed and that the restoration of the view from Drinnie’s Observatory “would not be fixed overnight”.
He added: “Take a look at Aden Park, and Deer Abbey just along the road. Then the Pitfour estate is being improved in leaps and bounds. Then you will move onto the observatory.”
The observatory building is currently managed by Aberdeenshire Council. A spokeswoman said that the maintenance of the woodland however is a matter for the landowner.