The dream of a Wolf of Badenoch Trail has moved a little closer to reality this month with the approval of Highland Council planners using delegated powers.
They have granted permission to the Badenoch Community Project to progress their plans for a specially commissioned sculpture and intrerpretation board at Talla nan Ros in Kingussie.
The project was formed in 1996 and played a leading role raising the community’s contribution to the construction of the Badenoch Centre, running a charity shop and selling named bricks. Between 2002 and 2004 it raised money to convert a former church in King Street in to Talla nan Ros. The Committee then oversaw the conversion work and ran the building as a village hall from 2004 until 2018.
The building is owned by Highland Council and since 2018 it has been run by Highlife Highland. Last year directors and trustees of the community project were elected and decided to take forward the 30-year-old dream of the late Bobby Nield for a Wolf of Badenoch sculpture to inspire the creation of a trail which would link with others in the country.
They envisage a stone and scupture 1.2 m long, 0.8 m wide and no taller than 1.5m outside the hall, with a display panel some 0.9m wide by 0.6m wide by 0.9 m high.
They briefed the planners: “We propose an information board telling the local story of Alexander Stewart, bette known as the Wolf of Badenoch, a legendary figure from the 14th century, together with an art structure of a wolf.
“He was Lord of Badenoch, Earl of Buchan and the son of King Robert II. His story is often a missed opportunity for attracting tourism.
“We will use nationally-renowned artist Helen Denerley.”
The trustees met this week to discuss the next move and hope to be reporting on progress after their upcoming AGM.
