Members' Newsletter November 2025
28 October 2025
Update from the Chair and Board
Well members, it's been a busy time for the staff, Board and volunteers since the last newsletter with lots going on. If you have been up at the Camp you'll have noticed it's been buzzing.
Here are a few of the highlights:
We have been very successful in attracting new tenants: 10 since April. We have around 70 tenants on site (all of whom have leases and pay us rent and service charges). We also have around 7 privately owned occupants who only pay service charges.
Despite mixed reviews in the TV Programme "Four In A Bed" last year, our holiday lets have been very popular with 71% occupancy, which is 20% above the local average. So busy in fact, we will probably get another let ready for rent next season. This winter we're piloting single night bookings. Remember, if you're a member you can use this discount code for yourselves or visiting friends and family when you book via Clarke Anderson using code CTRUST25:
The new pilot initiative of 5 parking bays for motor homes has also proved incredibly popular and we are getting fantastic reviews. They are already generating a nice little income and it bodes well for an expansion of this offer next year.
Some of you will have spotted the launch of "Celebrations at Cultybraggan" on Facebook. The idea is you can book the Camp and our accommodation as a venue for your wedding or celebration then we give you a list of local businesses who can provide all the other services. When it takes off, not only will it generate income for CDT but also bring more visitors' £s into the local economy.
In terms of another new initiative, we are really delighted to have secured CARES funding to undertake the feasibility work in relation to establishing a solar farm on the Camp. The proposed site that will be investigated is the strip of land right at the very back of the Camp. If we then go on to install the solar farm, not only will it enable us to significantly reduce electricity costs for all our tenants, we also estimate it will generate a community benefit fund of around £30k a year to support lots of groups and initiatives in Comrie and district.
Moving on, we're really pleased to have secured the £60k for the replacement of the roof of the museum ensuring all the artifacts can be kept safe and dry.
That said, Professor Sarah Carruthers recently completed a report for CDT for a PKC funded Heritage Conservation Management Framework. The report is exciting in that it really sets out the significance of Cultybraggan as a heritage site, which is great news as we think about how to promote the Camp to more visitors as a means of generating income to make the Camp self-sufficient. However, the report also sets out the huge challenges that face us in renovating and conserving the site for future generations. The Board and Heritage Group are planning an ideas session later this month to share and develop ideas of how we might go about this and we will probably run a members' event later this year to share details and get members' ideas.
You have all been very patient while we try to resolve the pedestrian access issues and get the gate at the north east corner of the camp reinstated. Perth and Kinross are really on board with this now. There were some last ditch efforts to put in place a negotiated resolution with the farmer concerned but unfortunately he doesn't seem to want to engage. We now understand that almost everything is in place for the Council to serve a Section 14 order on the farmer asking him to reinstate access. He then has 21 days to comply. If he raises no objections the gate will be reinstated or, if he objects, the case will then be heard by the Sherriff's Court. We will keep you posted.
Finally, some of you will be aware that activities for young people featured as a priority in the Comrie and District Community Action Plan. To push this issue on, we have created a partnership between CDT and LOGOS Youth Project supported by the Community Council and lots of existing local youth groups. We all agreed that what's missing are opportunities for children and young people 11+. We made a bid to the PKC Fairer Communities for All Fund to employ a youth worker, for 10 hours a week for 6 months, to find out what it is young people actually want and how they want to be involved in making decisions about issues that they feel are important. I'm delighted to say that we have been shortlisted for funding. However, this is participatory budgeting and we need your help to get this money in the bag so please follow this link and give us your vote.
Anyway, enough from me. Remember if there's anything in this newsletter you want to discuss or anything you want to talk to the Trust about, you can email me on [email protected] or most Mondays you'll find me in the CDT office on Camp.
Best wishes Fiona
News from Some of Our Groups
Comrie Community Allotments We had a good season at the allotments this year with great weather for growing and good harvests. We had to water a little more this year. We had two lovely little gatherings: in the spring to share seeds, and in the autumn to share some food. Our neighbours from Cultybraggan farm have been generous in giving us some horse manure which is always gratefully received. Along with Tam, they have also assisted in trying to keep the rabbit numbers down within the boundaries of the allotments. We really urge allotment holders and visitors to always keep the gates shut to keep the critters out. Our huts need some upkeep and with Eddie's help we have been selected by Tesco for their Local Projects Support. Please add tokens for us if you are in Tesco in Dunblane or in Callender. This runs until the end of December. We anticipate some people giving up allotments at the end of the season, so if you want to join our waiting list please email us at: [email protected]
Community Woodland This summer, the woodland has truly looked like a woodland, with exuberant growth and loads of wildlife. The regular monthly woodland days have continued: Thursday evening "woodland wanders" took place throughout the summer and into the autumn; and a successful ceilidh was held in mid September which sadly had to be held indoors, rather than at the woodland, due to heavy rain. Our next important date is Sunday 16th November when we plan to have a day of tree planting, starting at 10am. All are welcome. Later in the month, a group from the Duke of Edinburgh organisation will be coming to plant some trees. Anyone interested in finding out more about the woodland can get in touch by email at: [email protected]
Community Orchard Comrie Community Orchard held their annual Apple Day on October 19th. With a bumper crop of apples this year, we had two pop up sales in Comrie in September, as well as the big event at Cultybraggan. Our team of brilliant volunteers and stallholders made it a big success.
Many thanks to Comrie Outdoor Playgroup for their participation, and to Jim Thomson's Woodland Crafts for the use of his venue.
Maintenance of the orchard will carry on with monthly work days (first Sunday of the month) apart from November.
Heritage Group Since opening at Easter, we have welcomed 4438 visitors including MOD veterans and relatives of prisoners of war. Following the award of grant funding, work to replace the Jail Block roof will start mid-November. While the museum is closed, we shall continue work on cataloguing artefacts and, as no definitive records of prisoners of war here have ever been discovered, we intend to start compiling a list from various documents. Two members of CHG will be giving a presentation on Cultybraggan in WWII at UHI in November. Thanks to all for their hard work.
Comrie Development Trust · Hut 3, Cultybraggan, Comrie · Crieff, Perthshire PH6 2AB