Road access to the very popular car park at the foot of Ben Lomond is set to be affected by temporary closures from next Monday 18th April until Friday 6th May. Repairs to a retaining wall at Rowardennan will see the road completely closed during the following timeslots each day: 9:00am to 10:30am 11:00am to 1:00pm 1:30pm to 4pm The closure times have been chosen so that walkers will still have some access to Ben Lomond.
Access issues
Work parties – possible restrictions on use of bothies
Intending users of bothies maintained by the Mountain Bothy Association should be aware that maintenance work will be taking place at a number of bothies over the April- June period. Inevitably, this will mean that there will have to be restrictions on use at some, but not all, of these bothies while the work is being undertaken, and intending users should be prepared to camp while this essential maintenance is taking place. As much information as possible will be posted on the Association’s website www.mountainbothies.org.uk but it is not, of course, possible to be totally precise in advance about how…
Read more ›
Posted in Access issues
Ben Lomond path temporary closure tomorrow
The main path up Ben Lomond – one of the most popular of the Munros – will be closed tomorrow (Wednesday March 30th). The closure will be for one day and is to allow the delivery of stone by helicopter. There will be ground personnel onsite during the works to prevent access, on grounds of public safety. This is part of the preparation for the path upgrade works that are planned to start in May and is part of a wider project called ‘The People and the Mountains Project’ funded by Heritage Lottery Fund Scotland in partnership with the Loch…
Read more ›
Posted in Access issues, News
Strathfarrar Summer Access starts 31 March
The summer access arrangements for Strathfarrar will begin on 31 March this year. Strathfarrar has a locked gate and only a certain number of cars are allowed into the Glen each day. There are no restrictions on pedestrian access or taking a pushbike beyond the locked gate and wild camping is allowed within the terms of the Scottish Access Code but you cannot park overnight in the Glen. There will be no vehicular access all day on Tuesdays and on Wednesday mornings. The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) negotiates access along the private road with the landowner on behalf of…
Read more ›
Posted in Access issues, News
New section of John Muir Way opens through Kilpatrick Hills
A new section of the John Muir Way heading through the Kilpatrick Hills is now open. The new section of path – which heads past Burncrooks Reservoir – replaces the old stage between Balloch and Strathblane which made more use of minor roads and the West Highland Way. The latter option is now a John Muir Way variant for cyclists. The new route cost £500,000 was funded by Forestry Commission Scotland, SportScotland and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH); it is part of the Central Scotland Green Network project. Alan Stevenson of Forest Enterprise Scotland said about the opening: “This a great…
Read more ›
Posted in Access issues, News
Camasunary bothy temporarily closed after storm damage
The bothy at Camasunary on the Isle of Skye has suffered major storm damage. Many of the tin roof sheets have been blown off along with some timber work. Due to the possibility of further sheets becoming detached, the bothy should not be used until emergency repairs have been effected. A full assessment of the damage will be carried out as soon as possible. The new bothy at Camasunary is not yet ready for use, although it is hoped that it will be available shortly. In the meantime therefore, there is no bothy accommodation at Camasunary and intending visitors should…
Read more ›
Posted in Access issues
Is it time to pay for our pleasures?
“NATIONAL Trust for Scotland to ‘ask people to pay towards wilderness upkeep’ for first time,” declared the headline in The Herald last month. You might be forgiven for thinking the NTS was going to start charging folk to climb hills on their properties and indeed, following that headline several journalists rang me to ask ask for my opinion. My opinion was simple. The headline was misleading. Under Scotland’s Land Reform legislation you can’t be asked to pay to climb a hill, or go for a walk and it wasn’t until I fully read the NTS press release that I discovered…
Read more ›
Skye path workers battle Atlantic storms
Footpath workers have been battling ferocious weather conditions to complete repair works on a popular section of path on the Isle of Skye. After a great start in balmy October sunshine, the team working to repair the footpath over Druim Hain to Loch Coruisk have more recently had to contend with fierce gales and driving rain. And that’s on top of a daily two–hour trek from Glen Sligachan to reach the work site. Yet the work is still on course to be completed by the middle of next month. Chris Goodman, John Muir Trust Footpath Officer said: “The guys have…
Read more ›
Posted in Access issues, News
Recruitment fayre for path repair trainees
A recruitment fayre for a new conservation project – The Mountains & The People – will be held in Balloch tomorrow (9th Feb) evening. Its aim is to recruit 9 people to work on this unique partnership project in a mix of roles – from those interested in starting a career in practical conservation to experienced education and countryside volunteering coordinators. The Mountains & The People is a five-tear initiative that aims to engage the people of Scotland in the conservation of the , Loch Lomond & The Trossachs and Cairngorms National Parks. As well as protecting mountain environments through…
Read more ›
Posted in Access issues, Nature
Access campaigner sends open letter on camping ban to minister
A leading access campaigner has sent an open letter strongly critical for the Loch Lomond camping ban to the Scottish Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Dr Aileen McLeod. Nick Kempe is a former board member of Scottish Natural Heritage as well as former president of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland. In the letter he slams the case made for the ban, noting that although press releases by the Minister and the National Park claim that the restrictions only cover 3.7% of the Park, this 3.7% actually covers most of the locations in which people would wish to…
Read more ›
Posted in Access issues, Nature