A distinctive Highland mountain has topped a worldwide online poll to win £18,000 of funding towards a major path restoration project.
Suilven in north-west Sutherland will benefit from the work after receiving 52% of the vote in the Alpine category of the competition, hosted by the European Outdoor Conservation Association.
The John Muir Trust and the Assynt Foundation community group thanked the Press and Journal for its coverage of the campaign after we highlighted the support of mountaineering legend Sir Chris Bonington earlier this month.
Chris Goodman, footpath officer for the John Muir Trust, said: “This is great news. We were up against strong competition but thousands of people in the Highlands and the wider outdoors community across the UK rallied behind Suilven, underlining just how popular this hill is.
“We’d like to thank Berghaus for nominating Suilven, as well as others who have helped win this funding, including the Press and Journal and the Walk Highlands website.
“Alongside other funding, this windfall will allow us to get off to flying start next year. The Trust still needs around £50,000 to carry out a full restoration of the footpath that will endure
for decades to come.”
The 2,398ft peak near Lochinver is well known around the world because of its distinctive outline.
It beat off four other shortlisted projects from Rwanda, Italy, France and Spain.
The restoration work will carried out by the trust and foundation as part of the Coigach-Assynt Living Landscape Partnership scheme.
The Suilven path repair project was nominated by outdoor clothing and gear firm Berghaus on behalf of the trust and foundation.
Brendan O’Hanrahan, of the Assynt Foundation, said: “The Foundation is delighted that the importance of improving the access to this well-loved mountain has been recognised in this way. That this comes from an international audience is a tribute to the success of the partnership approach embodied by the Coigach-Assynt Living Landscape Partnership.”