The paths around the West Front of our Church, and fronting the public toilets and shop, have hitherto been made of concrete paving slabs.
These have several disadvantages. The chief of these is that their unevenness constitutes a trip hazard. But also: they do not drain well in heavy rain, and have in places become worn or cracked.
Now they have been entirely replaced with tarmac.
A good deal of preparatory work has to be done to create an appropriate bed on which the tarmac can sit: so the final layer is just the last stage of the process.
Of course the resulting finish is not only perfectly smooth, and well drained, and hard-wearing, but also wheel-chair or wheeled-zimmer friendly.
Our builders finished the work just in time for the annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Pluscarden, which always features a large marquee on our Nave lawn. Special concrete pads have been laid as anchor points for such a marquee. Of course nothing has been done to compromise the original foundation stones laid by the masons of King Alexander in 1230: now beautifully exposed for public view.
