Isle of Skye Mountain Path Maintenance Days 2010 - 2011
Volunteers with a love of the outdoors are being sought by Highland Council Rangers for Skye and Lochalsh to help them with their ambitious third programme of Mountain Path Maintenance Days between June 2010 and March 2011.
This year, six days of mountain path maintenance are planned among some of Scotland’s most iconic scenery - from the Cuillin of Skye to the Quiraing and the Old Man of Storr.
The first of these days is on Saturday 19 June. Participants will work on the upper section of the path from Glenbrittle to Coire na Creiche, in 1601, the site of the last clan battle on the Isle of Skye.
Mountain Path Maintenance Days last from 10am to 3pm each day. A reasonable level of fitness is required and booking is essential. Transport is available from Broadford on the Isle of Skye to the sites. All tools are supplied.
This year’s programme of Mountain Path Maintenance Days is as follows:
Sat 19 June: Coire na Creiche
The last mountain maintenance day of the 2009-10 season left a bit more work needing done on the upper section, from above the Fairy Pools to the end of the built path. Volunteers will walk to the top of the path and work their way back down. Meet at the Forestry Commission car park at the start of the path at NG424258.
Sat 14 August: Storr
This is probably Skye’s most-walked route with an estimated 30,000 plus visitors per year. As a result the path is in constant need of repair. Works will include clearing out cross drains and water bars and improving some of the side drains. Meet at the main Storr car park at NG508529.
Sat 18 September: Coire Lagan
This is another path which has previously been worked on and again it is the upper section which is in most need of attention. The plan is therefore to walk up and work back down. Meet at the car park at the end of the Glenbrittle road at NG409206.
Sat 9 October: Coire na Banachdich
This path forks off from the original path into the Cuillin from Glenbritttle and it is still regularly used as a means of access to the main ridge. The path was upgraded in 2002 with Heritage Lottery funding and is in need of some routine maintenance. Meet at the car park at the end of the Glenbrittle road at NG409206.
Sat 13 November: Quiraing
Over the years a significant amount of maintenance on has been carried out on the Flodigarry end of this path. This time the aim is to go in from the Bealach on the Uig - Staffin road and tackle that end. Meet at the viewpoint on the Staffin - Uig road at NG440679.
Sat 12 March 2011: Coire Riabhach and Coire a Bhastier
This is the main route for access to the north end of the Cuillin ridge, including the two Munros, Sgurr nan Gillean and Am Basteir. The route starts and ends at the Sligachan Hotel where participants can call in there for some well-earned refreshments at the end of the year’s footpath labours. Meet at the Sligachan Hotel car park at NG485298.