A VISITOR centre is set to be established in Menstrie to improve recreational access to the most iconic hill in the Ochils.

The Dumyat Visitor Hub will see infrastructure improvements at Our Dumyat Centre in the Clacks village with the project looking to relieve visitor pressures around the narrow Sheriffmuir Road.

Aimed at promoting an alternative route to Dumyat Hill and Menstrie Glen from the Hillfoots, it will offer more easily accessible off-road parking, including disabled parking, and vehicle charging points.

The project is also looking to increase active travel choices and around £200,000 will be spent on improving the car park at the Dumyat Centre as well as on tourist signage and interpretation to guide visitors.

The vehicle charging infrastructure will also include provision for ebikes and a docking station designed to connect into the Forth Bike network.

Funding for the project comes from VisitScotland's Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund, following a successful bid by Clackmannanshire Council.

Cllr Craig Holden, spokesman for the environment, said: "I welcome this successful bid to the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund and the planned improvements to Menstrie which will create an alternative and improved access route to Dumyat, one of the most popular hills in the Ochils."

The council hopes the project, which will complement other community plans and visitor facilities, could become a blueprint for other sustainable tourism developments, promoting access to the hills and glens throughout the Wee County.

The funding bid was prepared with assistance from Menstrie Community Council, Menstrie Community Action Group, Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface as well as Discover Clackmannanshire.

Neil Christison, VisitScotland's regional director, added: "It is great to see Clackmannanshire benefiting from the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund with improved access for Dumyat hill.

"Over the last three years, the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund has played an important role in improving the visitor experience, be it car parking, toilets or footpaths, as we want people to have a must visit-must return experience, so I am delighted to see this project receiving funding.

"We all need to play our part in being responsible visitors and improvement works like these are crucial to ensuring our visitor destinations remain sustainable for years to come.

"Tourism is a force for good and if managed responsibly, sustains communities in every corner of Scotland, creates jobs, tackles depopulation and improves the wellbeing of everyone who experiences it."