UDAT ARE SET TO TACKLE THE FOOTPATH PROBLEM
There is no doubt that the growing popularity of Scotland’s mountains
is resulting in a rapid deterioration of many mountain footpaths.
Now that UDAT has upgraded the car and bus parking at the Spittal
at Glen Muick, see Mountain
Views Autumn 2000, it has turning its
attention to addressing the problems of footpath deterioration in
the UDAT area. For the interest of new readers UDAT is the
Upper Deeside Access Trust which is both a limited company and a
Scottish charity and whose partners are Aberdeenshire Council,
Balmoral Estates, Cairngorm Partnership, Grampian Enterprise and
Scottish Natural Heritage.
Strategic Condition Survey of 16 pre-selected mountain paths
UDAT has selected 16 mountain paths from the Upper Deeside
area and commissioned a Strategic Condition Survey “to
examine, assess and prioritise future path management needs as a
tool for making investment decisions in UDAT’s continuing
programme of footpath repairs.”
6 of the paths selected are in the Lochnagar area. The results of this survey were printed in February 2001, in 5 Volumes entitled respectively: Survey Findings; Path Assessments; Photo-record; Field Data and Priorities for Path Management. The Survey therefore investigated the Path Characteristics which include the length, accessibility, gradient, surface, vegetation, braiding, width and depth as well as the Path Condition which covers the roughness, drainage, erosion, dynamism (stability – affected by visitor numbers) and condition.
In all 45km was surveyed and the estimated cost of completing
the pre-scribed work is noted as just under £800,000
minimum and just over £ 1million maximum. The Survey used
standardised Path Industries Skill Group (PISG) methods.
UDAT’s Braemar Workshop
On 27th October UDAT hosted a Workshop in the
Invercauld Arms, Braemar to consider the survey’s findings.
The turn out was good and a lot of different factions were
represented.
Alistair Beeley, NEMT's Secretary and myself, this time
representing Mountaineering Council for Scotland also attended.
It was made clear from the outset that UDAT meant business and
delegates were being asked to actively participate in the
on-going work programme. UDAT wanted to channel our collective
knowledge and experience to compliment the findings of their
survey and so assist them prioritise the work required on these
16 paths.
After some introductory talks we were soon split up into 4 workgroups which each concentrated on 4 paths to pool our knowledge on the individual Path Conditions, Nature Conservation Values, Landscape Impacts, Recreational Value, Potential Deterioration and Appropriate Solutions of our allotted paths. Such alternatives as going for broke with the badly eroded paths against getting in now with pre-emptive work to halt the destruction of paths just at the brink of deterioration were discussed. It was accepted from the outset that UDAT's work was developing in parallel with the pending introduction of the Cairngorms National Park and would dovetail with the latter as it developed. The meeting surprisingly did not spend much time on considering how the £1 million funding was going to be raised so it appears that the fund-raisers are doing an excellent job.
The crux of the matter …
BUT there are big issues at stake here. Whilst mountain path
deterioration does need to be addressed it is essential the
necessary work is done sensitively so we do not end up
“urbanising” the mountains. Our last 2 issues of
Mountain Views contain articles by Dougie Baird on the footpath
work he is involved with at Mar Lodge and Glen Coe and his
reports describe how this work can be done carefully to minimise
impact.
What can happen was brought rudely home to me when we took a
walk up behind the Glas Allt Shiel Lodge on Loch Muick,
following the Glas Allt path, on the Sunday after the UDAT
meeting. When we stopped and looked down to the loch from the
waterfall there was a “new path” sticking out like a
sore thumb around the head of the loch. I have since found out
that this path was not built by UDAT and that yes, it is very
new. It comes as no surprise to learn that the root of the
problem is finance. It is a lot cheaper to carry out a
mechanised quick fix than to undertake labour intensive work
which is more costly but which will produce a path that will
blend with the mountainside from day one. It takes an awfully
long time for lichen to grow back on to stones!
The other issue is the concept of remoteness – the wild
land issues. In today’s society the need to get away from
it all has never been greater – the Cairngorms National
Park with UDAT as one of its forerunners – has a
world-class asset in these mountains. (Can I recommend to
you the lyrics of the new found Song for the
Mountains). Right now, with proper use
of the Zoning Principle, and the careful sourcing and use of
funds, we can accommodate the needs of most of our visitors.
Some fine words were spoken at the UDAT meeting and some great
groundwork has already been done. Path construction and repair
is an old skill finding its way to the top of today’s
agenda. New employment opportunities are now on the horizon.
It is critical that UDAT, as a unique and very progressive
organisation, that is breaking new ground on a daily basis,
maintains its professional and sensitive approach for the work it
is about to undertake. At all costs, whilst we do respect and
support UDAT’s work, we must guard against letting them get
seduced by a cheap close out to full-fill their lengthy shopping
list.
Jennifer A Cook, 30th October, 2001
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