A Scottish environmental agency has slammed vandals who have destroyed a sign and cairns aimed at reducing erosion on the popular Munro, Ben Wyvis. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) had erected the sign at the An Cabar cairn to point walkers in the direction of the preferred route up the mountain which is aimed at protecting the fragile habitat from erosion caused by the 8000 walkers who tackle the peak every year.
To try and reduce the impact on a wide area of woolly fringe moss, which provides a rare habitat for the dotterel, SNH had erected two temporary cairns at each end of the preferred route and a sign explaining the reason for the single route. SNH said that it planned to remove the cairns and the sign once the single route had become established but that within days of being erected the sign had been completely vandalised and the cairns toppled over. The Police are currently investigating the vandalism.
The temporary anti-erosion measures on the Ross-shire peak, which sits just north of Inverness, had the support of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland who are keen that the impact of mountaineers on the environment is minimised.
SNH reserves manager Peter Duncan commented: “We are really back to square one. It really is so disappointing when the purpose of the work is to improve the visitor experience while minimising the impacts on the features of interest. We’ve done our homework and there is across-the-board support. Whoever has done this is in a complete minority.”
This latest incident comes only a week after the Number 4 Gully marker on Ben Nevis was uprooted and thrown into the gully. The marker, has since been re-instated and its future is under consultation by the John Muir Trust.
A full route description including mapping and photos for Ben Wyvis can be found on the Walkhighlands website.