A 1975 Journey into a Changing Highlands
Travelling north from Blair Atholl in November 1975, the signs of a transforming landscape were starkly evident. Dead sheep littered the roadside verges with unusual frequency, a grim consequence of the increased traffic heading for oil base construction sites. The journey offered a visual feast of autumnal colours in the forested stretches of Tayside, which soon surrendered to the bleak, open land of Badenoch.
The Concrete Intrusion of Aviemore
The destination, Aviemore, had been designated for development as an all-year-round tourist village, a stark departure from its previous identity as a simple access point for skiing and climbing on nearby Cairn Gorm. The result was a concrete jumble of hotels and leisure facilities that seemed entirely disconnected from its rural setting. The local community appeared to be in a state of shock at this 'cuckoo in its midst,' where traditional highland pastimes were replaced by go-kart racing and the blare of pinball machines.
Nature's Sobering Perspective
From the nature reserve to the west, the view back across Aviemore to Cairn Gorm provided a crucial sense of scale. The grandeur of the highland scenery effortlessly dwarfed the rash of new buildings. The immense, timeless landscape served to quieten the cacophony of raucous music blasting upwards from the amusement arcade, a powerful reminder of nature's enduring dominance over man-made intrusion.
