Cairn Gorm’s poo chute is helping keep the mountain clean, as the winter season gets underway.

Mountaineers, many of whom bivvy in snow holes on the tops, were asked to use the facility, rather than burying human waste, the volumes of which were starting to cause problems in the fragile arctic wilderness of the mountain’s summit plateau.

The poo chute was set up in November last year so walkers and climbers could seal their waste in specially designed bags and bottles and dispose of them in the tube, which was set up in the Cairngorm Ski Area car park.

The containers are available free of charge from Cairngorm Rangers. Waste is dealt with by the resort’s own miniature sewage treatment plant.

Using snow holes is an integral part of many mountaineering activities, including Winter Mountain Leader training and assessment.