A charity today launches a major appeal to improve footpaths in some of Scotland’s most popular mountain landscapes.

Footpath maintenance on Ben Lawers

The National Trust for Scotland is asking its 11,000 supporters to stump up cash towards the £80,000 needed to maintain paths on its land, including Glencoe, Torridon and Kintail. The money will pay for the trust’s continuing programme to protect routes in some of Scotland’s most fragile environments.

The Sole Trading appeal involves mailing all the trust’s members to support the work. Members of the public can also donate online.

A team from the National Trust for Scotland has already completed footpath repairs on Ben Lawers, Ben Lomond and on the Mar Lodge Estate, in Kintail, Glencoe and on Arran. The upland footpath team looks after more than 394 miles of paths, and half of their time is spent working on terrain more than 2,500ft up on the high ground of Scotland.

Alasdair Eckersall is ranger at Ben Lomond. He works closely with the team.  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.”

NTS workers on Ben Lawers

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.”