Comments for Scottish Outdoors news (Walkhighlands)

Comment on Walkers may subsidise Cairngorm railway by Alastair

Alastair — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:51:49 +0000

I dont know where Jamie has been since Christmas but it has clearly been a case of skiers taking up the significant portion of both car parks on the several occasions I have been there since Christmas. Yes there have been sightings of walkers using the car park but lets face it, it is the bumper snow conditions which has brought all mountain goers whether they be skiers or walkers. And what about the tourism £’s all mountain users bring to the local area. Another charge for parking will simply be seen as another tax and an excuse to extort money out of people for enjoying the great outdoors. Why should walkers subsidise the funicular when they cannot use it to get up the mountain unless they want to remain within the confines of the Ptarmigan restaurant area. Besides allowing people to use the funicular to gain access to the plateau is in breach of the EU Funding Agreement.

Comment on Walkers may subsidise Cairngorm railway by Ann

Ann — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:13:57 +0000

Mainly I suppose because that’s what it says in the news article Quote “The public agency which now runs the Cairngorm funicular railway has proposed that parking charges be introduced at the car park at the funicular to help fund running costs.” As I said I have no objection to paying for car parking, I just object to subsidising something I never wanted in the first place and will not be using.

Comment on Walkers may subsidise Cairngorm railway by Jamie

Jamie — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:23:27 +0000

When speaking to the then CEO of CML in 2005 (when he first told me about the idea of reintroducing carparking charges) it was very much a case that the carparking charge would be used first and foremost for road maintenance and clearing etc.

Fair.

I don’t know why people are assuming the carparking charge is to subsidise the funicular? A case of 2+2=5!

Comment on Walkers may subsidise Cairngorm railway by Ann

Ann — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 07:45:33 +0000

It does not seem particularly fair to me that walkers and climbers should have to contribute towards the funicular when we are not allowed to use it even if we wanted to. Many of us were against the construction of the railway in the first place. I have no objection to paying for car parking but not to subsidise the railway.

Comment on Walkers may subsidise Cairngorm railway by Jamie

Jamie — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:36:26 +0000

Haha – pretty funny. What about skiers subsidising your parking, ranger service, toilets and road clearing?

There were always carparking charges in the past, but these were then rolled into the cost of a ski ticket. But things have changed since, and we now have a situation where walkers (non-customers) take up a significant portion of CML’s carparking space (especially in winter – while would-be customers get turned away at Glenmore as carparks are at capacity) but do not contribute to the business. Fair? It’s about time that walkers and climbers gave something back.

Comment on Red Squirrels Bouncing Back by kevsbald

kevsbald — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:30:47 +0000

Brilliant news. Had a grey in my loft recently and it….’left the building’…

Comment on Epic Ben Nevis Climb Success by kevsbald

kevsbald — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 19:01:41 +0000

Well done guys – like Smith and Marshall, Macleod is a climber who deserves a lot of credit and is a Scottish legend. If only these two had had the coverage MacLeod has had, their brilliance would have been more widely appreciated.

Comment on Monty Halls’ Great Escape creates Applecross frenzy by James - Bucks

James - Bucks — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 20:22:13 +0000

Just this minute got back from a week-long stay at a crofter’s cottage in Callekille with my wife. What an amazing place – although we found it kind of by accident looking for an isolated place to wind down from our busy lives commuting in and out of London. Had never heard of Monty’s programme but a copy of his book had been left strategically by the fire in the cottage and I read it on our last day there and just before our last visit to Sand Beach. I must say, I have been to some beaches in my life but never one so magical and haunting as Sand. To watch the sunset bleeding into the Skye mountain range, framed by the calm silver ocean was simply awe inspiring. I just couldn’t take my eyes off the silhouette of the “pyramid peak” incessantly drawing me in. Found it hard to leave the place and now finding it hard to get it out of my head! Will be going back. TIP: Go in February – we had a week of sunshine. Very smug about that as it was dead quiet for us.

Comment on Walkhighlands celebrates 1,000th route by Fraser

Fraser — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:55:48 +0000

Congratulations. It’s top of my list when I need ideas for a trip.

Comment on Council renews Alladale Licence by Paul Webster

Paul Webster — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:25:15 +0000

Not yet Ann; this was the renewal of their existing dangerous animals licence. The zoo licence is still pending.