Mar Lodge Estate

Mar Lodge Estate

29,340 hectares WoodlandWoodland

MoorlandMoorland

MontaneMontane

RiverRiver

NNR SSSI NSA SPA National Park

Mar Lodge Estate

CaledonianCaledonian ForestForest

Pinewood AreaPinewood Area 836 Hectare836 Hectare

Regeneration ZoneRegeneration Zone 2,300 Hectare2,300 Hectare

Cultural LandscapeCultural Landscape

Wild LandscapeWild Landscape

““Wild land in Scotland is relatively remote and inaccessible, Wild land in Scotland is relatively remote and inaccessible, not noticeably affected by contemporary human activity, not noticeably affected by contemporary human activity, and offers high quality opportunities to escape from the and offers high quality opportunities to escape from the pressures of everyday living and to find physical and pressures of everyday living and to find physical and spiritual refreshment”spiritual refreshment”

Mar Lodge Estate

Indicators of Wild Land QualityIndicators of Wild Land Quality

Enhancers:Enhancers:

Size and scale of landscapeSize and scale of landscape Roughness of terrainRoughness of terrain Sense of remotenessSense of remoteness

Peacefulness, quietnessPeacefulness, quietness Seemingly natural environmentSeemingly natural environment

Evokes emotional experienceEvokes emotional experience Absence of contemporary human activity or developmentAbsence of contemporary human activity or development

Physically demanding – sense of achievementPhysically demanding – sense of achievement

Scenic grandeurScenic grandeur

Mar Lodge Estate

Indicators of Wild Land QualityIndicators of Wild Land Quality

Detractors:Detractors:

Recent signs of human activityRecent signs of human activity

Presence of crowds or group activityPresence of crowds or group activity

Unsympathetic recreation activitiesUnsympathetic recreation activities

Man made noise Man made noise Facilities to make recreation easier or saferFacilities to make recreation easier or safer

Ecological imbalanceEcological imbalance

Visual intrusions – pylons, fencesVisual intrusions – pylons, fences Mechanical transport & their tracksMechanical transport & their tracks

Mar Lodge Estate

Impact on Tourism and RecreationImpact on Tourism and Recreation

Estimated expenditure:Estimated expenditure: £m/pa£m/pa

Mountaineering (Highland area 1995)Mountaineering (Highland area 1995) 157.9157.9

Sport shooting (Scotland)Sport shooting (Scotland) 35.035.0

Grouse shooting (Scotland)Grouse shooting (Scotland) 6.16.1

2001 – ‘Hillwalking generates £400 million for the2001 – ‘Hillwalking generates £400 million for theScottish economy annually.’Scottish economy annually.’

(Source – Mountaineering Council of Scotland)(Source – Mountaineering Council of Scotland)

Mar Lodge Estate

Path and Track RestorationPath and Track Restoration

Mar Lodge EstateMar Lodge EstateExpenditure 1996 – 2001Expenditure 1996 – 2001

Path RepairPath Repair£227,727£227,727

Track Track RestorationRestoration£237,633£237,633

Proposed capital spend 2002 ->Proposed capital spend 2002 ->£1,372,377£1,372,377

Beinn a’ Bhuird: trial track removal 1998, altitude 800m – conversion to footpath

Beinn a’ Bhuird: track removal 2000, hand working

Beinn a’ Bhuird: track removal 2000, manual placing of divots

Beinn a’ Bhuird: trial track removal 1998, manual reconstruction of scree

Beinn a’ Bhuird: track removal 2000, digger used for subsequent work

Beinn a’ Bhuird: track removal 2000, re-profiling

Beinn a’ Bhuird: track removal, removed zig-zag track in distance after 5 years; repaired footpath in foreground (2005)

Beinn a’ Bhuird: track removal, removed track after 5 years (2005)

Beinn a’ Bhuird: track removal, removed track after 5 years (2005)

Track removal below Beinn a’Bhuird, altitude 600m

2000 2005

– 27 km of track removed/converted to footpaths out of 72 km total since 1997– most of remaining tracks deemed essential for estate use for the time-being– 61 km of footpath repaired out of 210 km total length of footpaths – ‘light touch’ approach– in 3 years time, footpath capital works will be complete; thereafter maintenance only – funding??