[5] Positioned 300 metres (985 feet) above sea level and 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) outside Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, the wind farm has over half a million people living within a 30 km radius, which makes Whitelee one of the first large-scale wind farms to be developed close to a centre of population.

Whitelee wind farm has a Countryside Ranger Service operated jointly by East Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire councils that works to promote and develop access opportunities for the public within the wind farm and wider area, as well as operating an annual program of free activities and events open to the public.

The plans will provide graded trails to suit a wide range of users, from beginners to more experienced riders.

The course will offer a mix of route options, technical sections and challenges, as well as a large picnic and viewing area, with wet weather shelters for use by families, clubs, schools etc.

In addition, at least "another 100,000 people had accessed the wind farm's 96km (56 miles) of trails for recreational purposes such as jogging and cycling".

[15] As part of the visitor experience, people can go on a bus tour, visit the exhibition of gift shop, or have refreshments in the cafe.

In the 18th century John Howie became a biographer who recorded the lives of Covenanting martyrs in books published from 1775 onwards.

In 1896 a stone obelisk was erected nearby as a monument "in memory of John Howie, author of the Scots Worthies"; this is accessible by the tracks leading from the visitor centre.

[17][18] In May 2009, the Scottish Government granted permission for an extension to the wind farm to produce up to a further 130 megawatts of power,[19] which would increase the total generating capacity of Whitelee to 452 MW.

[21] In August 2012 Scottish Power announced that it was applying for a further small extension of five turbines on the west of the existing site, adding 12 MW of capacity.

Following the accident Keith Anderson, managing director of ScottishPower Renewables, said: "This type of incident is exceptionally rare and highly unusual.