Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority has today launched a twelve week public consultation to seek the public’s views on proposed new byelaws that would help local communities, the National Park Authority, its Rangers and the Police to tackle the impacts of irresponsible informal camping and excessive use along the shores of East Loch Lomond. Under the byelaws it will be an offence for any person outside designated sites to pitch a tent or set up any form of shelter including sleeping overnight in a vehicle in the restricted zone.

The restricted zone would cover 14 square kilometres and includes the popular sites of Rowardennan, Sallochy Bay, Milarrochy and Balmaha. The proposed byelaws will help bring sites like Sallochy Bay and Rowardennan back to being family friendly and great places for everyone to enjoy.

Fiona Logan Chief Executive for Loch Lomond & The National Park, explained the reasoning behind the consultation, “This is undoubtedly some of the most beautiful scenery in Scotland and some of the most well known. We have amazing views along the banks of Loch Lomond but unfortunately, if you take a closer look on a busy summer weekend, you’ll find the remains of tents, burnt down trees, abandoned campfires and countless bags of rubbish. The huge popularity and sheer numbers of people are slowly degrading Loch Lomondside and we have to propose innovative ways to try and save the landscape around us. Most of the issues we face are related to informal camping and we have to look at taking action before the environment so many people enjoy is destroyed forever.

The incidents on the east side of the Loch that include drunkenness, vandalism and criminal damage, have meant that the local communities, the NPA and its partners are looking at some innovative measures to deal with issues to try and protect the environment and allow people to have a more enjoyable visit. Our role is to support our communities and to ensure that everyone coming to the National Park has a great experience of this precious place.”

The National Park has already introduced measures to address some of the visitor pressures including Operation Ironworks, an award winning initiative from Central Scotland Police, the Park Authority and Forestry Commission Scotland. Fiona added, “Ironworks has been a fantastic success and has seen our Rangers working with Central Scotland Police to carry out joint patrols across the National Park. We appointed a National Park Police Officer to ensure effective joint working across the Park between our communities, the Police and our Rangers. In a UK first, some of our Rangers became employee supported Special Constables.

We now need to look at preventative measures as well as enforcement and this is why we have launched the camping byelaws consultation.”

Kevin Lilburn, Director of the Buchanan Community Partnership and local resident, gave his support to the consultation, “The local community fully supports the introduction of the new byelaws. After many years of locals having to deal with the challenging issues associated with informal camping, we are delighted that the National Park is taking positive action to improve the management of visitors to this iconic and beautiful area.”

The National Park Authority has been working closely with Buchanan Community Partnership, Forestry Commission Scotland, Central Scotland Police and Stirling Council as part of the East Loch Lomond Visitor Management Group. The camping byelaws are part of a range of measures being taken in the area to enhance the visitor experience and make it a better place for residents to live.

Existing commercial caravan and camping sites including Cashel Caravan Park and Campsite and Milarrochy Camping and Caravanning Club will continue to operate as before within the byelaw boundaries.

The consultation is open from 8 February to 3 May 2010. For further details and to commend on the plans click here.

Glencoe Mountain, the ski-centre at the head of Glencoe, is hoping to tap into funds which will allow a major upgrade of the skiing facilities as well as making the centre a year round attraction. The plans include three new mountain bike trails, an adventure playground, accommodation for walkers on the West Highland Way, and a dry ski slope.

The centre was bought last year by Falkirk businessman, Andy Meldrum, amid worries that it might have to close altogether due to ageing equipment and the difficulty of making the centre pay. Scotland on Sunday reports that Mr Meldrum plans to turn the centre into a Community Investment Company (CIC) which would allow it to bid for public, European and Lottery Funding.

CICs are becoming increasingly popular in Scotland with a number of small community companies being formed to take over rural shops, petrol stations, and even to run community windfarms. The Skye Ferry Company is such a CIC and has to plough any profits back into the business rather than issuing dividends to shareholders.

Glencoe Mountain, which opened in 1956, was Scotland’s first commercial ski centre, but has been dogged by financial concerns in recent years. It has 19 runs and 7 lifts, but much of the infrastructure is 40 to 50 years old and in need of a complete overhaul. In addition the relatively short season and distance from the central belt means it has struggled to attract the number of winter skier’s to make it financially viable. Mr Meldrum said that they were talking about needing a seven-figure investment to make the centre a year round attraction.

Highland Council decided today to renew Alladale Estate’s Dangerous Animals Licence despite objections from the Council’s own Access Officer and walking and mountaineering organisations. The licence relates to the keeping of captive elk and wild boar in fenced enclosures. The Estate also has a zoo licence pending which, if granted, will allow the keeping of wolves and other animals, in large enclosures with no general public access.

Highland Council’s Access Officer for Surtherland and Caithness, Matt Dent objected on the basis of concerns about the obstruction of access rights by the current scheme, following a complaint sent to Mr Dent by a mountaineer who had difficulty in descending from the hills past the enclosures.

Commenting on the renewal application, The Mountaineering Council of Scotland’s access and conservation officer Hebe Carus said, “It’s an important mountaineering area as the ridge on which the enclosures are on give access to a Corbett and some very good ground for hill walkers.

“Our members are also concerned about possible future expansion and plans for ever larger enclosures which we fear could end up with an application to remove access rights to the estate.”

Walkhighlands understands that various access issues regarding the current enclosures on the Alladale Estate currently remain unresolved.

A Shark Project Officer started work in Oban this week on a new project run by the Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network. The project is funded by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and Leader.

James Thorburn will work closely with local sea anglers to set up and manage the new Scottish shark tagging programme. It will focus on key angling species in Argyll and the west coast of Scotland that are considered endangered, such as spurdog, common skate and tope. James previously carried out a study analysing data on common skate in Argyll as part of his MSc thesis. The data had been
collected by anglers since 1975 and stored in the Glasgow Museum.

He is thrilled to be returning to Argyll to carry on the work. He said: “We
have such an amazing range of shark, skate and ray species off our coasts that most people aren’t aware of – this project is a great opportunity to show everyone the rich diversity of fish life out there.”

With the help of anglers, who will tag the fish before returning them to the sea, the project will collect useful data on their movements and life history, as well as highlighting conservation issues to the public.

James explained: “As their name suggests, species such as the common skate were once very common around the coasts of the UK but they are now restricted to one or two areas, one of which is off Argyll. There has been an impact on shark populations for a number of years through commercial fishing and fishing bycatch, when they are accidentally caught in fishing gear. As sharks, skates and rays are relatively slow growing and late to mature it takes a long time for
their numbers to recover. That’s why it’s important that we learn as much as we can about them so that we can look after our seas and conserve the sharks for the future.”

With its application for a zoo licence pending, Alladale Estate has come under fire with local Highland Council Access Officer Matt Dent objecting to the renewal of its current licence under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act.

According to the Press and Journal, Mr Dent’s objection concerns the obstruction of access rights by the current scheme, following a complaint sent to Mr Dent by a mountaineer who had difficulty in descending from the hills past the enclosures.

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland’s access and conservation officer Hebe Carus told the P&J “It’s an important mountaineering area as the ridge on which the enclosures are on give access to a Corbett and some very good ground for hill walkers.

“Our members are also concerned about possible future expansion and plans for ever larger enclosures which we fear could end up with an application to remove access rights to the estate.”

However the renewal of the dangerous animals consent has been recommended for approval by Highland Council’s Environmental Health manager Chris Rattar. The decision on the renewal of the existing licence will be made at a meeting on Monday in Helmsdale.

Next month top climbers Dave MacLeod and Andy Turner will attempt to recreate a legendary era of climbing on Ben Nevis, 50 years on, while making a film for the Fort William Mountain Festival. In 1960, Jimmy Marshall and Robin Smith were the first to ascend six routes on Ben Nevis in winter conditions.

These ascents, made without the aid of modern equipment, are highly respected by climbers. The following quote from Colin Wells’ Who’s Who in British Climbing says it all, “In one legendary week on Ben Nevis in 1960 Jimmy Marshall and Robin Smith advanced Scottish winter climbing a full ten years. On consecutive days they climbed six first winter ascents, including the mini Alpine-route Orion Face Direct (V, 5), while also making the second ascent of Point Five Gully (V, 5) for good measure. The fact they achieved all this by cutting steps up the snow and ice appears, from the remove of the 21st century, to be almost unbelievable. Marshall’s skill was such that he could lead routes almost faster than some of his talented seconds could follow.”

The Fort William Mountain Festival runs from 11-15 February and starts with a Ceilidh and includes workshops, talks and films. On Sunday 14 February Jimmy Marshall will be presenting a night of stories and images from Scottish climbing. See the Festival website for more details and prices.