Work started last week on a project aimed at making Ben Nevis
'Britain's premier outdoor sports destination, while safeguarding the
environmental and cultural heritage of the area'.
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Work begins in classic Ben Nevis
sunshine, ahem...
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If that all sounds a bit alarming, don't panic... It's initially a
£140,000 path upgrade programme aimed at making the north face
of the mountain more accessible to both walkers and climbers. In
other words, an improved path rather than a funicular...
The first section being worked on is the 600-metre stretch
directly above the upper car park. Later sections will extend the
upgraded park to the first rock band just 300 metres below the CIC
hut improving access and reducing erosion in the officially
designated National Scenic area.
The project is being run by the Nevis Partnership and has been
made possible by sponsorship from The North Face alongside the
Highland Council and SNH (Scottish Natural Heritage).
"It's superb to finally have work underway," commented Jonathan
Hart, Nevis Manager, while Keith Byrne of TNF added: "The North Face
has a great affinity with the Ben Nevis region. It is the premier
climbing destination in the UK and the north face of the mountain
offers some of the most testing terrain that Europe has to
offer."
The path restoration is just one part of the overall programme.
The whole area surrounding Fort William will also benefit from
additional path and other enhancement projects and will, it says here
- 'add to the area's claim to be the Outdoor Capital of the UK'.
