Residents living close to the Glenfinnan viaduct have said they are facing “gridlock” traffic due to tourists flocking to see the attraction made famous by the Harry Potter franchise.
Over half a million tourists visited the area to see the viaduct in 2023, making it the National Trust of Scotland’s most popular visitor site outside of Edinburgh or Glasgow.
The increase in popularity has created severe problems for locals with most visitors arriving by car and many parking on road verges and bends.
BEAR Scotland, Transport Scotland’s operating company, has now installed marker posts along the roadside to stop people from parking on the road verges and make it safer for traffic passing the site and through the village.
STV NewsOperations manager for Glencoe and Glenfinnan at NTS, Emily Bryce, said staff are turning visitors away from around 9.30am everyday due to the car parks filling up so quick.
Ingrid Henderson, charity of the Glenfinnan community facilities scheme, said they were “delighted” with the work to deter drivers adding that the parking situation often creates “gridlock” traffic across the village.
Ms Henderson added that although the work should help the situation there is concern that visitors will still bring cars and leave them on the other side of the village.
The local community have worked with NTS to create a reward scheme for people who have proof to show they travelled by bus or train.
If visitors show their tickets they will be able to get discounts for entry to certain attractors and centres in the village.
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