19 January 2021
Five new star attractions join the hugely popular Peterhead Trail
Five new instalments to the hugely popular Peterhead Trail have been introduced.
The walking tour round the fishing port highlights more than 400 years of history, stories, events and local scandals through the use of information panels at key locations.
More than five years on from its launch as part of the regeneration programme for the town, there has always been a strong desire to see further development of the historical attraction.
In December 2019, a community steering group was established to review the existing signage and decide on what could be done to further develop the trail.
An open invitation to the community provided those with an interest in the trail to join the discussion and suggest new sites which would link up with the existing infrastructure.
Aberdeenshire Council town centre project officer, David McCubbin, explained: “The trail is all about the town and most importantly it belongs to the people of Peterhead - past, present and future.
“The group agreed to create a new link between Peterhead Prison Museum and town centre to maximise the economic opportunities of attracting visitors into the town centre. The trail extension also now features additional trail panels at Meethill Reform Tower, the Scottish Maritime Academy and the old St. Peter’s Churchyard overlooking Peterhead Bay.”
Peterhead Football Club approached the steering group with a view to erecting a panel at Morrison’s supermarket - site of the club’s original Recreation Park ground – and were delighted to see a panel erected on the corner of Balmoor Terrace and Hay Crescent depicting the club’s history.
Meanwhile, a new website - www.peterheadtrail.co.uk - and social media channels have been developed to promote the trail, alongside a trail map and leaflet.
Local social media influencer Kim Grant has also walked the trail and created a vlog which can be viewed on her YouTube account.
The Peterhead Trail project has seen a total investment of £20,000 of which £10,000 was funded by Aberdeenshire Council’s regeneration budget for the Peterhead Development Partnership and £10,000 from the Scottish Government Coastal Communities Fund.
Councillor Norman Smith, chair of the council’s Buchan Area Committee and Peterhead Development Partnership, said: “The Peterhead Trail has been a tremendous success story for the town and that popularity will only increase with the additional new panels featured across the town.
“Peterhead really does have a fascinating history and having this sort of engaging attraction showcasing its heritage while getting people out doing a spot of healthy walking is a win-win for us all.”