The National Trust for Scotland is asking its supporters to leave more than footprints at the mountain ranges under its care - the conservation charity is looking for donations to help maintain its mountain paths.
The National Trust for Scotland is asking its supporters to leave more than footprints at the mountain ranges under its care - the conservation charity is looking for donations to help maintain its mountain paths.
The Trust, which looks after some of Scotland’s most popular mountain landscapes, including Torridon, Glencoe and Kintail, is launching a public appeal to raise funds for ongoing repairs to pathways in these areas.
Through its Sole Trading appeal, the charity hopes to raise £80,000 this year to fund the specialist, ongoing repair work needed to protect this fragile environment.
From Friday 29 August, donations to the appeal can be made at
www.nts.org.uk/soletrading. The Trust is also mailing the appeal to 11,000 supporters across the country.
A dedicated National Trust for Scotland’s upland footpath team completed a major programme of work earlier this year to improve the path network at Ben Lawers, Ben Lomond, Mar Lodge Estate, Glencoe and Kintail and on Arran.
Together, the team care for more than 394 miles of mountain paths and spend 50 per cent of their work time at altitudes over 2500 feet.
Alasdair Eckersall, ranger at Ben Lomond, works closely with the team and provides management support. He said:
“The Trust is fortunate to care for some of Scotland’s most beautiful mountain areas, including more than 40 munros. Many of these are very popular with walkers and we need to raise extra funds, so we can continue with our repair work.
“Many thousands of visitors enjoy these landscapes every year. I hope that anyone taking advantage of the exhilarating climbs and stunning scenery will support our fundraising appeal by making a donation, so that visitors can continue to make the most of our glorious countryside now and for years to come.”
Bob Brown, contracts officer said:
“It is fantastic that we have now completed our major works across the country. The upgrades that we have made to paths in places like Torridon and Kintail have improved things for walkers, but more importantly will help protect the fragile environments that exist at these high altitudes. Such eco-systems are highly susceptible to erosion, which our work will help to minimise.”