FORESTRY and Land Scotland is to close its visitor centres across Scotland in response to the challenges of COVID-19.

FLS said the move is in line with UK and Scottish Government guidelines on social distancing and prioritises the health and well-being of its staff, visitors, suppliers and contractors.

As from Friday 20 March until further notice, FLS’s visitor centres across Scotland will be closed:

• Glenmore Visitor Centre, near Aviemore
• Queen’s View Visitor Centre, Tay Forest Park.
• The Lodge, near Aberfoyle
• Glentress, near Peebles
• Kirroughtree, Galloway Forest Park
• Clatteringshaws, Galloway Forest Park
• Glentrool, Galloway Forest Park
• Ae, near Dumfries

Both GoApe treetop adventure sites at Glentress and Aberfoyle remain open for business as are Alpine Bikes at Glentress, the Ae bikeshop and the Brake Pad bike shop at Kirroughtree.

Although the centres and cafés are closed, FLS is encouraging people to continue to visit the trails and to keep active during this anxious time.

There are hundreds of FLS forests and their walking and biking trails will remain open to the public as normal.

The current government advice is that those not experiencing symptoms, such as a fever or persistent cough, and those not in the high risk groups, can be outside for exercise as long as they minimise social contact.

For more information visit: https://forestryandland.gov.scot/covid-19