Visitor centre opens early

A MAIN visitor attraction has opened in East Renfrewshire for its fifth year — a month ahead of schedule — due to popular demand.
The visitors' centre has proved to be a big draw with 300,000 attending since it opened.The visitors' centre has proved to be a big draw with 300,000 attending since it opened.
The visitors' centre has proved to be a big draw with 300,000 attending since it opened.

This is because visitor response urged ScottishPower Renewables to open the attraction while winter was still with us.

Management are saying that this is a testament to the success of the centre, which has welcomed more than 300,000 visitors since it first opened in 2009.

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Located on the edge of the UK’s largest windfarm, the £2 million visitor centre includes a range of interactive displays and exhibitions, along with a separate learning hub staffed by Glasgow Science Centre experts.

The new Whitelee Wind farm visitors centre.
Chris James 17/9/09The new Whitelee Wind farm visitors centre.
Chris James 17/9/09
The new Whitelee Wind farm visitors centre. Chris James 17/9/09

Whitelee is home to some 215 turbines, covering 130km of tracks.

Simon Christian, UK managing director for ScottishPower Renewables, said: “The level of interest in renewable energy continues to grow and we’re delighted to welcome so many visitors to the UK’s largest onshore windfarm.

“Through our partnership with Glasgow Science Centre we continue to develop our activity programme to educate as many people as possible about the important role that renewables play now and in the future.”

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Work has begun on a new network of mountain bike trails at Whitelee, which is expected to draw enthusiasts from across the country.

This will be in addition to the existing network of tracks which bring cyclists, joggers and horse riders.

There is also a new viewpoint at Blackwood Hill.

Mr Christian continued: “The creation of Whitelee has already opened up large sections of the countryside for recreational use and we’re looking forward to welcoming more cycling enthusiasts to our mountain bike trails later this year.”