David Mackay
Work is set to begin on creating new holiday accommodation in the Cairngorms in a bid to boost tourism numbers.
Wooden wigwam huts are being built on Crown Estate land near its visitor centre in Tomintoul.
Contractors are scheduled to move into the site during the next week with the first visitors expected in the spring.
A dozen cabins are being constructed in the initial phase of the project with another 12 ready to open at the beginning of 2018.
Vicky Hilton, countryside manager for the Glenlivet Estate, said: “We hope the development of the new site will attract tourists for both long and short-term breaks all year round.
“Holiday-makers will have an even greater choice of activities on the estate while they’re here.
“We’ve done a lot of work in recent years to attract more people to Glenlivet Estate. Growing numbers of visitors will directly support local businesses by increasing spending and helping create new jobs, which will bring long-term benefits to the area.”
Once the chalets are open, it is expected they will create three full-time jobs while boosting the amount of accommodation options in the Tomintoul and Glenlivet area.
The cabins will be built and managed by Wigwam Holidays, which runs 39 other sites in Scotland.
Owner of the firm, Charles Gulland, added: “We’re pleased to be able to bring a development which is sustainable and works with the local environment to this stunning part of Scotland.”