Plans to transform one of the Highlands’ most visited tourist destinations have taken a significant step forward with the appointment of architects to help shape the future of Glenfinnan.
The National Trust for Scotland has appointed Inverness based LDN Architects to lead the next phase of developing a new visitor centre and improved facilities at Glenfinnan, where visitor numbers have grown far beyond what the existing site was originally designed to accommodate.
Working alongside landscape architects Ironside Farrar, the design team will develop concepts for a new visitor gateway aimed at improving the experience for visitors while reducing the pressure tourism places on the local community.
The move comes after the Glenfinnan visitor centre welcomed around 660,000 people during 2025, making it one of Scotland’s busiest tourist attractions outside Edinburgh and Glasgow.
The current facilities date back to the 1960s and were originally designed to serve around 100,000 visitors a year.
National Trust for Scotland Regional Director for the Highlands and Islands, Clea Warner, said the project is focused on improving the experience for those already visiting rather than attracting additional numbers.
She said:
“After many years working with the Glenfinnan community on visitor management, and after undertaking a consultation exercise with the people who live here and the tourists who come here, we are now moving forward with a project to redevelop our charity’s Glenfinnan visitor facilities.
“This isn’t about attracting more visitors but better serving the visitors we already welcome.
“Our often-crowded facilities can result in challenging conditions for our visitors, our staff, and our community.
“We want to change that and become a place that thrives rather than copes and inspires rather than processes its visitors.”
The charity says reducing the impact of tourism on local residents remains a key objective and community representatives have been involved throughout the process, including helping select the design team.
LDN Architects partner Stuart MacKellar said the practice was excited to take on the challenge of designing facilities for one of the Highlands’ most recognisable locations.
He said:
“As a practice with deep roots in the Highlands, we at LDN Architects are thrilled to have been appointed by the National Trust for Scotland to help shape the future of Glenfinnan, one of the region’s most iconic and culturally significant places.”
The redevelopment is being planned alongside a separate community led proposal for an off site mobility hub, which could help manage parking demand and encourage more sustainable travel options for visitors.
Glenfinnan Community Facilities SCIO Chair Ingrid Henderson said the two projects offered an opportunity to improve life for both residents and visitors.
She said:
“This is an important step forward in cohesive efforts to improve the visitor and resident experience in Glenfinnan.”
The Trust hopes to submit a planning application in autumn 2026, with work on site expected to begin during 2027.
If approved, the project would mark one of the most significant changes to Glenfinnan’s visitor facilities in decades, helping one of Scotland’s most iconic destinations meet the demands of modern tourism while protecting the community and landscape that make it so special.
