Path Maintenance Fund

The Trust and their partners have completed three campaign funds so far: Boat of Garten Wildlife Group creating a community willow structure, osprey nest and community workshops in the Milton Loch area; Kingussie Path Network Improvement Project creating a volunteer programme and maintaining the paths around Kingussie; and the Braemar Society Bridge and path maintenance project, repairing the Society Bridge and helping improve paths leading to it.

Delivering these projects is a team effort, with the Trust working in partnership with successful applicants to actively raise funds for the project. It is envisaged that, once the campaign has started, projects will actively promote the Cairngorms Trust in their local area of the Cairngorms National Park. This will help support the fundraising activities that the Trust undertakes on your project’s behalf. The Trust will keep you updated on a regular basis and upon reaching the funding target.

It is anticipated that the Trust hold at least one community event in your area highlighting the project and raising funds for it. Whilst the Cairngorms Trust are happy to be the main organisers for the event if required, they do require community volunteers to help with the publicity, organisation and running of the event. They also anticipate that a Crowdfunder-style online event will need to be created, which again will require community assistance to make it a success. In addition, the Cairngorms Trust will be actively raising funds throughout the rest of the Cairngorms National Park for the successful campaign project.

Please note: applications are currently closed for the latest round of the Path Maintenance Fund; however, the Cairngorms Trust do plan to repeat the process in January 2026. Keep an eye on our website or the Cairngorms Trust's website for all the latest updates.

What will it fund?

The panel will assess the applications on the basis of the following eight criteria:

• The grant funds sought are essential to make the project idea happen.
• The project will deliver public benefit to the residents of and / or visitors to the Cairngorms and will enhance the local community.
• The project will contribute to strengthening the natural and social capital of the Cairngorms.
• The project shows that it has a high chance of delivering the intended public benefit.
• The project demonstrates that it is well thought out and has clear and measurable outcomes.
• Your project fits within the broader aims of the Cairngorms Trust.
• The project has clearly identified any risks and has a plan to manage them.
• Your project has clear direction into how it will help the Cairngorms Trust raise the funds for your project.

Successful applicants will be required to share their progress with the Cairngorms Trust and others. They may share updates through their own media and social media channels so that successful projects can be replicated. These lessons will also be shared with the wider public to demonstrate the impact that projects have had within the National Park.

Successful applicants are required to promote the Cairngorms Trust as being supporters to your project. Funding decisions are final and feedback may be provided where possible depending on the volume of submissions.

How much is the fund worth?  

Working alongside the successful applicant, the Cairngorms Trust anticipate raising funds in the region of £5,000 to £8,000 and your application should fall within this amount. The Trust will also accept projects that have match funding to bring greater benefit to the project. A decision-making panel made up of members of the Cairngorms Local Action Group Trust and Cairngorms Trust staff will determine which projects are taken forward. 

What are the key dates? 

Applications are currently closed for the latest round of the Path Maintenance Fund; however, the Cairngorms Trust do plan to repeat the process in January 2026. For more information check out the Cairngorms Trust website.