They won thousands in funding – but they still have a mini-mountain to climb to complete this footpath.
Following its success last year in a Euro-wide online poll worth £18,000 towards the restoration of the Suilven footpath in Sutherland, the John Muir Trust has now officially launched a wider public appeal to raise the balance of funding.
Situated in the spectacular landscape of West Sutherland, Suilven lies on community-owned land managed by the Assynt Foundation. With its distinctive geography and spectacular location, the mountain attracts visitors from all over the UK and beyond.
But due to increasing popularity, fragile soils and a harsh climate, the most popular approach to Suilven, beginning at Glencanisp, is rapidly deteriorating.
The Suilven path restoration project will set out to repair an eroded 2.5km section of the route to prevent further damage and maintain public access, helping support tourism in the local community. It also aims to protect this rare habitat of peat bog and wet heath, and the plant species and wildlife it supports.
The path repair work, which is expected to cost in the region of £200,000, will be carried out by the John Muir Trust and the Assynt Foundation under the umbrella of the Coigach-Assynt Living Landscape (CALL) Partnership, one of Europe’s largest landscape restoration projects.
The John Muir Trust is now hoping to raise an additional £50,000 via a public appeal, which is key to triggering the release of the remaining funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Scottish Natural Heritage to meet the total project cost so that work can start as soon as possible.
Stewart Hill, Chair of the Assynt Foundation, said: “The Assynt Foundation gladly welcomes these visitors, but their footfall does cause erosion, which is why we urgently need to repair the path in a manner that will preserve it in the long term.”
Mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington said “The most magical walk I have ever known was on Suilven. It is a very special place, in a wonderful setting, and I urge the public to back this important path restoration project.”
You can find out more and make a donation to the appeal at www.johnmuirtrust.org/suilven.