Work is progressing to deliver the new Glencoe Village Car Park, an infrastructure investment aimed at long‑standing parking, traffic and safety issues in one of Scotland’s most popular visitor locations. Works are due to go out to tender shortly.
Glencoe is identified as a tourism hotspot in The Highland Council’s Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development Plan, with more than two million visitors passing through the glen each year. Many visit Glencoe Village to access local attractions, cafés, accommodation and public facilities. Increasing visitor numbers have placed growing pressure on the village’s limited parking provision, with the existing 20-space car park frequently overwhelmed, leading to congestion and safety risks for pedestrians and road users.
Funded by VisitScotland’s Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF), the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and The Highland Council, the new purpose-built car park will provide a long-term solution by offering safe, organised parking and reducing tourist traffic in the village centre. Located at the edge of the village, it will improve traffic flow, pedestrian safety and visitor experience, while supporting local businesses.
The new facility will include:
- Dedicated spaces for cars and motorhomes, including accessible bays.
- Electric vehicle charging points.
- Bicycle racks.
- Waste and chemical disposal facilities.
- A bus stop and coach drop-off point.
- Safer pedestrian infrastructure.
The project has been shaped by extensive community engagement, including surveys, a public meeting and a feasibility study, and is being delivered in partnership with Glencoe and Glen Etive Community Council and Glencoe and Glen Etive Community SCIO. The Highland Council will oversee construction and long-term management.
Linked to the wider Glencoe Greenway initiative, the car park will encourage greener travel choices by supporting walking, cycling and low-carbon transport. Overall, the project will provide a safer, more sustainable and welcoming arrival to Glencoe, helping protect the village and its setting for years to come.