Tuesday, 28 June 2022

ACTION GROUP 2

OUTDOORS AND NATURE BRIEFING NOTE

1 PLAYPARKS - We have established what support is available from the local authority on playpark development and management of the playparks with an idea to develop one at Wildside

2 PATHS AND PLACES - We are referred to in the Forestry Land Scotland consultation as a partner here – perhaps you’d like to comment on their proposals Communities - Forestry and Land Scotland

Graeme Ambrose and Nick Wright did some work on paths.  Details below.  An action from todays meeting would be to get a team of volunteers together to take these findings forward and to work on them.

Graeme suggested a way forward would be

Paths & Places

Requirements of an audit of the existing paths and places of interest en route:

1. Name of path(trail) if one exists
2. Location, start /finish points, length and whether-or-not the path extends beyond the boundaries of the Stratherrick & Foyers area
3. Is the path primarily for

 a) walkers

 b) cyclists

 c) horse riders

 d) all of the above

4. Is the path a built path? If so to what standard (materials used, width etc) and by whom
5. Is the path suitable for those with restricted mobility?
6. If it is not a built path is it

 a) a ‘rough’ track

 b) forest road

 c) right of way

 d) ‘unofficial’ path developed by people as a shortcut from a to b,

 e) a mixture of some or all of these

7. Is the path part of a wider path/trail network? e.g. the South Loch Ness Trail/the Loch Ness 360
8. Who if anyone is presently responsible for maintenance of the path?

 a) Highland Council (as part of the core path network)

 b) Forestry and Land

 c) Landowner

 d) Visit InvernessLochNess (VILN)

 e) multiple organisations

  f) not known

9. If the organisation responsible is known, when was the last known time that any maintenance was carried out and what was done?
10. Where the path is the responsibility of one overarching organisation are there any agreements in place between itself and landowners/other organisations  
11. What is the condition of the path

 a) excellent

 b) good

 c) poor

 d) a mixture of these ?

12. Where the condition is poor, what makes it poor e.g. boggy, no use for cyclists, overgrown etc.
13. Does the path have signage? If so is it

 a) excellent

 b) good

 c) poor

 d) n/a

14. Does the path have any information boards/lecterns/monoliths along the route? If so where and what condition are these in?
15. Where no information exists are there points of interest relating to heritage, flora and fauna along the path?
16. Does the path have any viewpoints? If so what conditions are these in (i.e. do they have a view or is it all overgrown, is there a bench/table at the viewpoint)
17. Are there any points on the path where the footfall is presently recorded? (e.g. on the SLNT). If so, are numbers available?
18. Who are the main path users

a) locals

b) visitors

c) a mixture of both

19. Is the path actively marketed? If so by whom? 
20. Are there any locations where presently there is no path, that the construction of a new path would be of benefit to the community socially and economically?

The audit, assuming it is comprehensive, would then enable prioritisation of paths for investment and development.

Nick Wright did some work based on this

I thought the most useful thing I could do was to start with where people actually walk now, using Strava walking data.  So, I've put together an editable Google Map, which is based on Strava heatmap data for walking:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1bVFzi9QtBFsEBp9WO1OCqU2SDcE6yoxD&usp=sharing

For me, this gives the starting point for thinking about a network around the whole area (or a series of linked mini-networks based around each settlement, depending on your point of view). 

But to get to that point, some local knowledge is needed about which routes should be the focus.  That could be through the paths audit that Graeme and others suggested in the working group last year (more detail here, particularly in the diagram or video), and for which Graeme fleshed out criteria last month.  

That of course needs volunteers, or money to pay someone to do it; if neither of those are available. 

I've added another layer to the Google Map, showing off-road cycle routes from Strava data, as you suggested Graeme:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1bVFzi9QtBFsEBp9WO1OCqU2SDcE6yoxD&usp=sharing

It's interesting to see exactly where the routes go up into the Monadhliath, using windfarm tracks - there are two quite big loops.

Graeme suggested some QUICK WINS although the group may want to have an overall approach too.

Possible Path ‘quick wins’

1. Between Whitebridge & Foyers on South Loch Ness Trail: There are two stream crossings both of which regularly rise in level in wet weather and make crossing almost impossible without getting wet feet. By simply laying in some large stepping stones this issue would at least be negated. The crossings are on Dell Estate but the route is also I think, a Right of Way

2. Between Foyers & Inverfarigaig on the South Loch Ness Trail: There is a short section through dense wood and out over a small boggy area which has long been in need of upgrading. It is on a section of the trail that is popular both with locals and visitors and is getting steadily worse, particularly as more bikers are now using it. The work required is largely the clearing of branches, improvement of signage in the woods, filling in the wet areas with large stones and defining the path more clearly through the woods. This may seem quite a lot to do but it should be relatively simple. I think it is  on F&L land but it is also core path for which Highland Council have responsibility and Visit InvernessLochNess who established the trail, have a responsibility for the signage.

3. Between Foyers and Inverfarigaig: Part of the ‘low route’ near to the SSE sub- station. This has I think previously been maintained by F&L but not for a very long time. Despite this it remains popular with walkers as a return route to Foyers from Inverfarigaig or vice versa. The section requiring attended to has suffered recently from fallen trees during the storms. Last time I looked  a path had already been cut  through them but with a bit more work and tidying up it can be quickly restored to a decent standard.

4. Link path between the Trinloist forest road down to Glenlia: This track was ruined when F&L felled in Glenlia a few years ago. It was made semi useable again but could do with some tlc, redefining the path in places and reducing the gradient of the path, placing stones over wet areas plus resurrecting signage. Again, I think this is  part of a core path.  As far as I am aware there are no plans as yet by F&L to fell the remaining trees in Glenlia.

5. Link path from near Foyers Medical centre up to the Craigdarroch Hotel: Used by locals and visitors staying at the caravan park.  I am not familiar with this path but I believe that it simply requires the cutting back of undergrowth to make it more accessible. If this is the case it would be a very quick win.

6. Link path off South Loch Ness Trail beyond Easter Boleskine that connects down to Glenlia. This was previously maintained by F&L but was abandoned by them a few years ago. For the most part it is in a good state as they spread wood chippings not so long ago, but it would benefit from some signage at both ends indicating the link that it provides and secondly rubble to fill in a small area which is becoming very boggy. At present, this area is simply getting steadily larger and worse as more people try to avoid it.

Paths meeting suggested at Wildside Centre on Wed 6^th July at 12 noon.

- Get paths audit group up and running with Graeme's 2-3 other suggested local contacts (hybrid mtg in Wildside/online Wednesday 6th July lunchtime, or feed in via email)

- If there's a role for Boleskine House to get involved with paths around them, they're ready and waiting

- Contact Ruaridh to understand FLS forthcoming activities and re-establish contact with Becky (invite her to the next action group meeting?).  They will help and should be sent ‘quick wins’ document to advise on that.

- Community woodland - leave for now

- Playparks - rolling programme.  The options presented by Kirsty were explained.  General support but most people at meeting for Pathways etc.  Perhaps move to Community Life (?) and engage directly with Baby and Toddlers, Schools, Youth Club and childcare group (who mentioned decline in playparks as an issue

2026

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