Banana skins and apple and orange peel are among the piles of rubbish collected by volunteer litter-pickers on Ben Nevis each year.
The debris usually appears when the snow melts on the summit of the UK’s highest mountain.
But this year, there was much less litter to collect than normal and the conservation charity behind the exercise is hoping its request to take litter home is finally getting through to those tackling the 4,412ft peak near Fort William.
The John Muir Trust said the team was pleasantly surprised at how clean the summit was looking compared to previous work parties at this time of year.
Trust Nevis ranger Blair Fyffe, who was on the work party at the weekend, praised the efforts of mountain leaders and instructors, who have gone out of their way to keep the summit clear of litter and have helped educate others on the damage that it can cause.
He said: “We had around a dozen volunteers on the Ben in pretty murky conditions, but it was refreshing to see the summit looking so clear of litter.
“We’re heartened that people are becoming more aware of the litter problem and taking personal responsibility for keeping one of Scotland’s greatest assets clean and tidy.”
He added that around three or four bin bags were filled, which was substantially fewer than normal.
Mr Fyffe said: “The existence of litter tends to breed even more mess, and likewise, when people see the summit litter-free, they’re far less likely to leave behind their own rubbish.”
