A share of the car parking fees from the new Beinn a’ Ghlo car park at Loch Moraig are to be invested in Outdoor Access Trust’s annual mountain path maintenance volunteer programme.
John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire North, has today opened a new 60 space car park for hill walkers on Beinn a’ Ghlo and its three Munros, near Blair Atholl on the southern edge of the Cairngorms National Park.
The £172,000 partnership building project was spearheaded by the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland (OATS), a leading environmental charity promoting sustainable public access, and funded by both the Cairngorms National Park Authority and OATS.
A share of income from the parking fees will be directly re-invested into the Volunteer Path Maintenance Programme run by OATS. Hill users will be making a welcome contribution towards essential path repair on Beinn a’ Ghlo and other upland paths in the Cairngorms National Park, enjoyed by thousands of walkers every year.
John Swinney MSP said: “It was a great pleasure to open this new car park at Beinn a’ Ghlo. This valuable facility is a testament to the effective partnership between the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland and the Cairngorms National Park Authority, demonstrating their commitment to promoting responsible access and environmental stewardship. Not only will this provide reliable and secure parking area for visitors, but its income will also be used to maintain the very paths they tread, enabling visitors to give back to our precious highland environments. It’s an innovative and sustainable approach, enhancing the visitor experience whilst ensuring the conservation of these cherished landscapes for generations to come.”
The cost is £5 for a day for a car, £3 for a motorbike or £8 for a minibus.
Before the car park was built the Beinn a’ Ghlo traiilhead was just an informal parking area off a narrow access road, that resulted in local habitat degradation and muddy verges, as well as litter issues. OATS worked with the landowner, Lude Estate, and the Park Authority to find a solution to protect the local environment and to raise funding for mountain path maintenance.
The car park opening at Beinn a’ Ghlo follows the recent launch of It’s Up to Us, an ambitious three-year partnership campaign between OATS and Mountaineering Scotland. It aims to raise £300,000 for much-needed path repairs on An Teallach, one of Scotland’s most iconic mountains, whilst raising awareness of the desperate need for investment in the repair and maintenance of informal mountain paths situated on land outside of Scotland’s national parks and NGO estates.
Outdoor enthusiasts, active tourism businesses and organisations that care deeply about Scotland’s hills and mountains are being encouraged to step up and give something back by donating to the fundraising appeal.
Dougie Baird, Chief Executive of the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland, said: “More people are taking to the hills. There is a lack of basic access infrastructure at popular remote destinations throughout Scotland. The effects can be far reaching with disruption to landowners, communities and businesses and damage to the very special locations that people love.
“OATS has a wealth of expertise and experience in finding partnership solutions to these access and visitor management issues. Charging a modest sum for car-parking at trailheads, including Beinn a’ Ghlo, which is then ploughed directly back into path maintenance projects actively protects important and fragile assets and ensures visitors enjoy a positive experience. Every vehicle and their passengers make a direct contribution both to the facilities that enable the activities they love, and to the long-term conservation of Scotland’s mountains. The legacy will be huge.”
Xander McDade, Convener of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said: “I am delighted that we have helped fund this project which will enable people to park safely and enjoy the mountains, while also developing a valuable funding stream to look after the paths in the National Park. The project is another great example of our collaborative approach to sustainable tourism and involves the land manager, a charity and the public sector. I want to thank everyone for their spirit of cooperation that is so important to make this kind of project happen“.
Duncan Gordon, Lude Estate, said: “Having worked with the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland on this project for over seven years, Lude Estate is delighted to finally see it come to fruition. Given the exponential level of popularity of the area for walkers and bikers, the new car park will prove to be an invaluable asset in setting a standard for responsible access across Scotland. The funds generated from the car park will go some way to supporting the fragile infrastructure of this unique area in maintaining paths and access tracks for all, while also setting a high standard of maintenance and repair for all who use it. Every additional pound raised will only assist in improving the sustainability of the area for future generations”.