A recent visitor to a popular Scottish tourist site has issued a warning to others, stating that it is getting "so dangerous".
The Devil's Pulpit is among Scotland's most striking natural sights, but some visitors have been turned off by its crowded conditions.
Situated in Stirlingshire, it consists of a rock formation at the bottom of the steep Finnich Glen and can only be accessed by journeying to the bottom of a series of steps that are often called the Devil's Steps.
Those who trek to the bottom of the gorge will be surprised to see that the river appears to flow blood red. This is a result of the sandstone underneath the water, and gives the area a menacing and otherworldly atmosphere.
One recent visitor took to Facebook to share their concerns about the Devil's Pulpit. Posting on the Scotland from the Roadside Facebook group, they wrote: "Stairway to Devil's Pulpit today. It's getting so dangerous.
"Please don't try this with little ones or dogs, people were today. A serious accident waiting to happen, and it was mobbed today too.
"We came away, too unsafe for us. The stairs were loose under-foot, wobbling as you got further down.
"Stairs were missing and no safety rope there today. Not like we had seen when looking into going.
"Family had been before but it wasn't like this. Gutted.
"But no worth the risk for me my husband or teenage daughter. We turned back and went for a walk instead."
The post has since received over 260 likes and more than 110 comments. Fellow Facebook users were keen to share their thoughts on the Devil's Pulpit.
One wrote: "Another beautiful place destroyed by people who only see the nice posts, and don't consider their impact. Also the mountain rescue are forever here."
A second commented: "You were very wise to turn back. There’s no pleasure when there are so many folk in such a small location."
Meanwhile, a third stated: "Whatever happened to leave nothing but footprints? Sometimes I hate people."
"Absolutely agree and the more that go up and down the worse it will get," added a fourth.
Elsewhere, other Facebook users shared more positive comments towards the beauty spot, with one writing: "You can still get stunning photos without using those stairs."
"It’s amazing go for it just be careful," said a second, while a third added: "Sounds like perfect adventure."
In recent years, the Devil's Pulpit has become a popular tourist attraction, particularly after appearing on the iconic television series Outlander. This increased activity has led to numerous visitors needing to be rescued by mountain teams after falling at the site.
The increased number of visitors to the Devil's Pulpit led to Stirling Council banning the parking of cars by the site in 2020 an effort to halt the "reckless" abandoning of vehicles by visitors.
A Stirling Council spokesperson said: "Finnich Glen, also known as the Devil’s Pulpit, is located on private land and health and safety measures at the site are the responsibility of the landowner.
"While we are delighted to welcome visitors to the Stirling area to enjoy our world-class attractions, beauty spots and diverse tourism offering, they must take responsibility for their actions. This includes taking appropriate safety precautions when exploring the natural landscape."
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