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Campaign launched to save Scotland’s hill and mountain paths

A man measuring rocks and recording the state of the path on An Teallach.
Ambitious campaign has been awarded the £100,000 Diamond Grant from the Scottish Mountaineering Trust. Dougie Baird carrying out a path survey on An Teallach Image: Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland (OATS).

Hundreds of pounds will be invested in a campaign to restore and preserve popular hill and mountain paths across Scotland’s mountains.

Mountaineering Scotland is launching an ambitious project with Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland (OATS) to ensure the conservation of hillside paths.

The It’s Up to Us campaign aims to raise more awareness about the work and develop a long-term funding model to cover the cost of building and restoring paths.

It comes as many mountain users are said to be unaware of the lack of funds for restoration projects on private land outside of Scotland’s national parks and estates.

Outdoor Access Trust Scotland chief executive, Dougie Baird said this project is more important than ever, as groups no longer have access to European funding.

‘Innovative’ project scoops top award

The campaign will kick-start with a £100,000 cash boost from Scottish Mountaineering Trust (SMT) after scooping the charity’s 60th anniversary award on Saturday.

This will fund the first stage, which will address decades of path erosion on An Teallach – one of the country’s mountains in Wester Ross.

John Fowler, chairman of the Scottish Mountaineering Trust, said the trustees were impressed by OATS and Mountaineering Scotland in their approach.

He said: “Their imaginative funding model to support our paths will have a major impact on Scotland’s mountain community for many years to come.

“Using the repair of the path on the iconic An Teallach as the prototype is a great idea as it is such a large and important project. We look forward to working with them going forward.”

‘Access may be free, but it comes at a cost’

The campaign will target outdoor enthusiasts, and organisations to raise essential funding and ensure hill and mountain paths remain fit for future generations.

Mountaineering Scotland chief executive, Stuart Younie highlighted the vital role the outdoor access network plays in keeping communities across the Highlands active.

“Our access may be free from charges, but it does come at a cost,” he said.

mountain project grant
Path erosion on An Teallach. Image: OATS

“We need to recognise the cumulative impact of recreational activity on our landscape and do something positive to address it so it can continue to be enjoyed by future generations.”

The special birthday award – the biggest in SMT’s history – is the latest in an extensive line of grants set up to aid deserving mountain projects.

Over the years, the charity has invested more than £1.7million in a range of projects, aiming to help more people experience and enjoy Scotland’s incredible mountains.

Conversation