Following the major rockfall on the popular Steall Gorge path on 13-14 September, the John Muir Trust has confirmed that the path will be closed for at least a month whilst specialist contractors repair the route.
Local contractors will start work soon to make access safe again, by removing debris from the path, including loose and unstable boulders from the area above the path, and stabilising damaged trees.
It’s estimated that the work will cost the John Muir Trust, who owns the Steall Gorge area as well as the summit of Ben Nevis, as much as £30,000.
Alison Austin, the John Muir Trust’s Nevis Land Manager said: “We’re finalising the details of the repair project with local contractors and will start work soon. We have funds immediately available that have been donated by Trust members and the public to our Wild Ways Path Fund. It’s why we ask for support year round, so that we can react as quickly as possible to this kind of event and make sure we can maintain safe access to well-loved paths while making sure the environment is respected.”
The Trust is continuing to call for donations to its Wild Ways Path Fund, so that it can continue to afford to maintain and repair the paths in its care.
Donations can be made at www.johnmuirtrust.org/wildways