Glenmore Camping and Caravan Site will remain open during the spring following a decision by Forestry Commission Scotland this week to defer refurbishment works until the autumn.

The Commission has been hoping for some time to carry out improvements to the facilities, especially to the toilets and showers. It had hoped to complete the work during the current winter and spring and reopen the popular campsite before the summer holidays.

However, in a statement this week, Inverness District Forester Jack Mackay said,

"We have listened to the views of the Cairngorms National Park Authority along with those of the local business community, and we agree that it is in the best interests of all concerned that we delay these upgrades until later in the year.

"This new timetable means 'business as usual' for the campsite from now until the autumn, and we will be able to remain open during popular times such as the spring school holidays, thereby minimising the effect on local businesses and jobs that benefit from campsite users' trade.
"Prospective visitors who had already enquired about booking sites during the spring and been told the campsite would be closed have been contacted by Forest Holidays and told of the change of schedule. In addition, many regular spring customers have been keeping in contact with Forest Holidays to keep up to date with the programme as it developed, which they can do by visiting the website, www.forestholidays.co.uk. We expect many of these people will now make their usual bookings, so we are optimistic that visitor numbers will be much the same as usual during the spring.

"Doing the work next autumn and early winter will partly coincide with the campsite's regular six-week shut-down in November and December, and this will further help to minimise the local impact of the closure.
"We very much regret that we will not be able to offer the improved facilities to visitors this year, but we remain committed to doing this work. We have the planning permission, and most of the preliminary survey and design work has been completed, so it's very much just a case of finalising and awarding a contract and getting the contractor on site at the opportune moment."

The Cairngorms National Park Authority had voiced concern to the Commission about the effect of a spring closure on local businesses and jobs. Welcoming the new timing, Convenor Andrew Thin said,

“We welcome the Commission’s proposed investment in improved visitor facilities at the campsite, which can only be of benefit of the people who come to enjoy our wonderful national park, and will help to enhance the reputation of the national park as a visitor destination.

“We are also very grateful to the Commission for planing the work in a sensitive way that minimises the disruption, both to visitors themselves and to the local community and businesses that depend on their trade.”
Bookings and enquiries about the campsite can be made on line by visiting www.forestholidays.co.uk or by e-mail to info@forestholidays.co.uk, or by telephone to 0131 314 6100.