Tuesday, February 2, 2016

The Devil’s Elbow road in Scotland to be revived as a tourist attraction

  • The Devil’s Elbow was section of the A93 until it was bypassed in the 1960s
  • With a one-in-6 gradient, the road continues to draw hikers and cyclists
  • Officials want it to be section of a trail from Blairgowrie to Grantown-on-Spey

Chris Kitching for MailOnline

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A former stretch of road in Scotland that was so dangerous that it made the nickname The Devil’s Elbow is being revived as an attraction for adventurous holidaymakers.

The once-feared double-hairpin bend near Glenshee, Perthshire, used to be section of Britain’s highest route, the A93, however was bypassed once the road was straightened out in the 1960s – much to the relief of motorists.

With a one-in-6 gradient, the original tracks continue to be today and keep on to draw hikers or cyclists, however officials are attempting to bring in a lot more visitors Along with a brand-new rest protect against and strolling routes.

Crowds watch Queen Elizabeth II being driven along The Devil's Elbow to Balmoral by Prince Philip in 1967

Crowds watch Queen Elizabeth II being steered along The Devil’s Elbow to Balmoral by Prince Philip in 1967

This old photograph shows a bus negotiating the one-in-six gradient, with some of the passengers appearing to have got out and walked

This old photograph shows a bus negotiating the one-in-6 gradient, Along with a few of the passengers appearing to have actually got out and walked

The Devil's Elbow was once Britain's most challenging stretch of road with a double-hairpin bend

The Devil’s Elbow was once Britain’s most challenging stretch of road Along with a double-hairpin bend

Located a mile south of the 2,198ft Cairnwell Pass, The Devil’s Elbow was Britain’s most challenging stretch of road, Along with signs warning drivers to prove to ‘fantastic caution’.

One of the most famous photos of The Devil’s Elbow is from 1967 and shows Queen Elizabeth II being steered to Balmoral by Prince Philip, as crowds wave from the roadside.

Nearly 50 years later, the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CPNA) wishes to include the notorious road in a tourist trail from Blairgowrie to Grantown-on-Spey as section of its Scottish Scenic Routes initiative. Similar attractions will certainly be made at Tomintoul and Corgarff in Aberdeenshire.

The A93 is regularly used by classic auto and motorbike enthusiasts and increasingly cyclists.

Signs warned motorists to exercise 'great caution' until The Devil's Elbow was bypassed in the 1960s

Signs warned motorists to workout ‘fantastic caution’ until The Devil’s Elbow was bypassed in the 1960s

Located south of the 2,198ft Cairnwell Pass, motorists were relieved when The Devil's Pass was bypassed

Located south of the 2,198ft Cairnwell Pass, motorists were relieved once The Devil’s Pass was bypassed

The Devil's Elbow is often blocked by snow - and runs past the Glenshee ski centre

The Devil’s Elbow is frequently blocked by snow – and runs past the Glenshee ski centre

It offers a quiet alternative to the A9, crossing the eastern Cairngorms through remote, wild and breath-taking landscapes.

Designers Daniel Smith and Philip Zoechbauer won an architectural competition to develop the Glenshee viewpoint. According to their brief, the site is ‘easily overlooked’ and the dramatic scenery has actually been ‘uncelebrated’.

Mr Zoechbauer said: ‘The proposal draws on the morphology of the old road as it existed prior to it being straightened, which followed the curve of the contours to navigate topography, to develop a brand-new meandering road cut in to the hillside, connecting a lay-by to an existing road which is currently difficult to access.’

Today, the A93 offers a quiet alternative to the A9, crossing the eastern Cairngorms through wild landscapes

Today, the A93 offers a quiet alternative to the A9, crossing the eastern Cairngorms through wild landscapes

This photo shows The Devil's Elbow in 1930. Today, the tracks still remain and continue to lure hikers 

This photo shows The Devil’s Elbow in 1930. Today, the tracks still continue to be and keep on to draw hikers 

Deputy Very first Minister John Swinney welcomed the initiative. He said: ‘Scenic Routes brings with each other Scotland’s globe renowned landscape Along with emerging design talent.

‘I look forward to visiting the completed projects in the spring, which will certainly be a superb showcase for Scotland’s Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design.’

Brian Wood, deputy convener of CNPA board, said artists had likewise been picked to design the Tomintoul project and the Corgarff development completed in December.

He added: ‘Once constructed these will certainly offer us a great scenic route along the eastern edge of the Cairngorms National Park.

‘This will certainly encourage a lot more people to experience and appreciate these breath-taking landscapes of the Cairngorms.’



from Golden Land Travel http://ift.tt/1SCmMcS

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