In January we updated our Cape Wrath Trail route description to reflect that Carnoch Bridge near Sourlies had been condemned as unsafe to cross. The river is frequently impossible to cross in spate conditions. The bridge has now been completely removed. There are plans to replace it later in the year, but this is likely to not be for around 6 months. Walkers intending to complete the Cape Wrath Trail during the main season this year should take account of this in their plans.
Access issues
Hillwalkers needed for Upland Path Survey
Do you know of a hill path in need of repair? Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is seeking the views of hillwalkers about the current state of paths and routes in order to determine how much money will be needed to undertake the longterm care of upland paths. The results of this new audit will build on a recent user survey which gathered views about the condition of Scotland’s upland paths and how they could be managed in the future. This audit is focussing on those paths and routes most damaged or in need of urgent repair. The information is needed…
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Mountain Bothy Association take on maintenance of remote Cairngorms refuge
The Mountain Bothy Association have taken on responsibility for repairing and maintaining the Garbh Choire Refuge. The Refuge is situated in one of the more remote climbing areas in the Cairngorms. Although usage has been light compared to other shelters in the area, it has played a significant role in the development of both rock and ice climbing in the area and is an important part of Cairngorm mountaineering heritage. It was originally built by Aberdeen University Lairig Club approximately 50 years ago. The refuge is a steel frame covered with stone. It is in a poor state of repair…
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Our Wonderful Access Legislation That Almost Wasn’t
Cameron McNeish looks back at an unlikely event that ensured the success of our much lauded Scottish access legislation. ACCESS campaigners in Scotland have been celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, probably the most significant piece of legislation to affect all those who enjoy Scotland’s countryside. The Act secured the traditional rights and freedoms of all of us in Scotland to access land, coast and inland water, provided we do so responsibly. An accompanying code of practice, the Scottish Access Code, sets out those responsibilities for access users and land managers alike. Most hillwalkers are…
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15 years of Access Rights celebrated
Outdoor personalities, politicians and access campaigners came together at the Scottish Parliament last night to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the passing of the nation’s world-class access legislation. Cabinet Secretary Roseanna Cunningham and Richard Lochhead MSP were among the 100 guests at Ramblers Scotland’s Celebrating Scotland’s Outdoors event to mark 15 years of the pioneering Land Reform (Scotland) Act. Following many years of campaigning by Ramblers Scotland and others, the 2003 Act secured rights of access to most of Scotland’s land and inland water for walkers, cyclists, horse-riders, canoeists and other non-motorised users – provided those rights are exercised responsibly.…
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Posted in Access issues
Consulting on Wolves
A London-based company is currently consulting with stakeholders on the feasibility of creating a Highland Wilderness Reserve for the release of wolves. Cameron McNeish knows who is behind it. HE’S back again. Every so often the millionaire owner of Alladale Estate in Sutherland invites a metropolitan journalist to his luxury hotel near Ardgay, wines and dines them, and feeds them his version of re-wilding. In particular he offers a romantic story of re-introducing wolves into Scotland. This normally results in an emotive feature in a glossy magazine or national newspaper, gets picked up by other media outlets and the whole…
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Cairn of the Watch
Keep ’em peeled! A few thoughts on access and conservation to finish off the year, from David Lintern. At the beginning of the year, I asked “what have the mountains ever done for us“. I wanted to round out the year by asking the same question in reverse. Of course, many hillfolk do an amazing amount – volunteering to provide access for those who find access difficult, path maintenance, conservation work parties, or donating money if time is tight, but I’ll wager more of us don’t do as much as we’d like to… and some of us don’t do much…
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Mend our Mountains: Make One Million campaign comes to Scotland
Mountaineering Scotland and the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland (OATS) are leading a campaign to raise £100,000 to support two essential Scottish mountain path projects – joined by Walkhighlands as offical media partner. The path restoration projects are one in each of Scotland’s two National Parks, and are part of a GB-wide initiative, Mend Our Mountains: Make One Million, coordinated by the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) in collaboration with 15 National Parks. Sponsorship is provided by Cotswold Outdoor and Snow+Rock, two of Britain’s leading outdoor retailers. In Scotland, the first target is one of the nation’s most heavily eroded mountain…
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A82 daytime road closures by Loch Lomond
Motorists are facing a 55-mile detour next month amid plans to close part of the A82 for nearly two weeks. The A82 between Tarbet and Crianlarich will be closed between 8am and 6pm on weekdays from Monday 6th November to 21st November. The road will be open outside those times, and at weekends. Road crews are gearing up to begin a major package of road improvements worth over £1M starting next week. Starting on Monday 6 November, works teams totalling over 90 operatives and associated plant and delivery vehicles will complete a number of schemes on the route over a…
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Posted in Access issues
Rockfall reported on Cruach Ardrain
A large rockfall has been reported on Cruach Ardrain, with slope slippage and debris left on the path that descends towards Stob Garbh. Rab Anderson of the SMC has said that more unstable debris remains, and any walkers descending this route – or traversing across towards Stob Garbh from Beinn Tulaichean – would be passing through the line of fire. The Walkhighlands route on Cruach Ardrain and Beinn Tulaichean does not traverse or descend this slope.
Posted in Access issues, News