The JMT said the turbines would be visible across Rannoch Moor from the A82

A conservation charity is urging residents and visitors to lodge objections to plans for a windfarm which, it said, would fatally undermine a recently agreed wild-land map.

The John Muir Trust is opposing the proposal for 24 turbines on the Talladh-a-Bheithe estate between Loch Rannoch and Loch Ericht.

The charity pointed out the 125m turbines would be visible from the main A82 road across Rannoch Moor at the head of Glencoe and from the West Highland Railway line. The windfarm would also be in view from more than 30 munros and corbetts, it said.

John Low, policy officer at the John Muir Trust, said: “Just last month the Scottish Government agreed a wild land areas map, along with new planning documents proposing stronger protection for these areas from large-scale energy developments.

“This followed two separate public consultations, both of which backed the wild land areas map by a majority of more than three to one.

“If this application were to succeed, it would fatally undermine the map and make a mockery of the democratic procedures of the Scottish Parliament.

“We would ask local residents and visitors familiar with the area to submit their own objections to the Scottish Government’s energy consents unit and copy it to Perth and Kinross Council before the closing date of Tuesday 5 August.”

The Trust is set to submit its own detailed objection to both bodies.

The application has been submitted by Netherlands-based developer, Eventus BV, of which the Talladh-a-Bheithe landowner is a major shareholder. It wants to build the turbines the north of Loch Rannoch.

Because of the size of the proposed windfarm, comments have to be sent directly to the Scottish Government. Comments are due by 5 August and the relevant local planning authority, Perth & Kinross Council, will be one of the statutory consultees.

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland is also opposing the development.

The windfarm company said: “It has been assessed that there would be significant effects on landscape character and visual amenity within parts of the Loch Rannoch and Glen Lyon national scenic area. It is not considered however that the proposals would have significant harm to the special qualities of the NSA.

“The mountain grandeur, wild summits and natural beauty within the NSA would not be directly affected by the proposed development, which lies beyond the NSA boundary with the nearest turbine over 1.8km away, and would remain appreciable following construction of the development.

“There would be no significant effect on any of the other national parks or national scenic areas which are located within the study area. These include the Cairngorms national park and the Ben Nevis and Glen Coe NSA.