Fancy following in the footsteps of cattle drovers or walking in the shadow of Highland clansmen?A new leaflet featuring a detailed map of hill passes in the Cairngorms is now available to help you do just that.
Produced by ScotWays – The Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society – the new leaflet aims to help people plan an interesting, historical route through or around the Cairngorms massif. Short, useful, notes also advise users on the need for sound preparation before heading for these remote areas as well as information on rights of way, the new Scottish Outdoor Access Code, Hillphones and ScotWays historic involvement with the Cairngorms.
The publication has been financed by the Cairngorms LEADER+ programme and the European Regional Development Fund (45%) and Scottish Natural Heritage (29%), with the remaining funding coming from ScotWays own funds.
The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) has also been instrumental in the development of the leaflet; providing assistance with the content and distribution of the map, which replaces a previous version published in 1995 which is now out of date.
CNPA’s Visitor Services Officer, Pete Crane added: “Many of these traditional routes provide a direct link to the past because they were used for moving cattle and, in some cases, troops around the Cairngorms. They offer the chance to see the best scenery that the Cairngorms has to offer while following in the footsteps of our forebears.”
Patricia Hamilton, Programme Manager for the LEADER+ programme in the Cairngorms said: “We are delighted to support ScotWays in funding a map covering the whole of the Cairngorms area. It will assist local people and visitors to plan and find the best routes and will also inform wider and safer access in the National Park.”
Cattie Anderson, Scottish Natural Heritage’s Area Officer commented: “We are glad to support this leaflet, which will help us to promote responsible access under the new Scottish legislation.”
The map is available free of charge from tourist offices, youth hostels, ranger bases and other information points in the Cairngorms area. It can also be obtained direct from ScotWays at 24 Annandale Street, Edinburgh, EH7 4AN, on provision of a SAE.
Full descriptions of these routes and many more are also contained in ‘Scottish Hill Tracks’ published in 2004 by ScotWays. The book costs £16.00 and is found in local shops or can be purchased direct from ScotWays.
For more information contact Tom Titterton, ScotWays Tel: 0131 558 1222 / email: [email protected]