Walkers are being asked to avoid a popular Munro on a Hebridean island today while a helicopter flies in a hundred tonnes of stone for path restoration work.
Work began on the £50,000 project on Bla Bheinn – the Blue Mountain – on Skye yesterday but the helicopter was unable to complete the delivery due to high winds.
It is hoped this can be done today.
Repairs to 2.4 miles of footpath leading from Loch Slapin to the spectacular summit of the 3,045ft mountain is expected to be completed by Christmas.
Once all the rock has been delivered, the path will remain open throughout the work, which is being carried out by mountain footpath specialists, Upland Access, of Blairgowrie.
Bla Bheinn is one of the few Munros on Skye that is accessible to competent hill-walkers as it does not require mountaineering skills.
And its popularity, coupled with its exposure to fierce Atlantic weather systems, means the path has begun to suffer serious erosion.
Earlier this year, the John Muir Trust, which looks after the mountain, won £24,000 in an online poll organised by the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) towards the costs.
At the same time, the trust launched an appeal among its members and supporters to match the funding.
Chris Goodman, who is the trust’s footpath manager, said: “Bla Bheinn, which guards the entrance to the Black Cuillin, is one of the most magnificent mountains in Scotland, with awe-inspiring views across land, loch and sea.”
He added that the trust encouraged people to take to the hills and explore the wild outdoors, so it needed to keep upland footpaths in a robust condition.
Mr Goodman said: “This can be expensive, but fortunately we’ve been able to raise the necessary money from our members and supporters, bolstered by the funding we won in the EOCA poll.”
The trust has also recently installed new interpretation boards at the Loch Slapin car park.