Secret Scotland

Your scribe doesn’t hide the fact that he likes to feature news stories that warn about the once unstoppable march of the Wind Farm across the country, ruining the land and the view, both irreplaceable assets that the country has become dependent on to attract tourists and their wallets.

It seems that the Scottish countryside is under threat from another quarter, namely the boom in adventure pursuits, which is now booming in the north, and said to be worth some £187 million per annum, and more than £25 million to the economy of the Highlands and Islands. Organisations such as VisitScotland are actively promoting events, and activities such as mountain-biking, together with public access events, intended to bring in spectators, with crowds of perhaps 40,000 attending. One project mentioned is the Wilderness Adventure Racing Championship, missing from Scotland last year, it looks set to return to Lochaber in 2008, bringing 60 teams from 22 countries. Organisers allocate funds to clear up litter, with budgets of £5,000 being typical.

Erosion and Waste

The upsurge in activities may be a cause for concern, while conservationists are busy maintaining the flora and fauna, and the land they depend on, growing numbers of visitor’s feet are straying from the paths provided, and damaging the softer, natural ground.

Human waste, as opposed to simple litter, also become a significant problem as visitor numbers increase. Ben Nevis is quoted as one example, where such waste can remain frozen for years if left there, rather than being broken down naturally. Already implemented in the Cairngorms are so-called Poo Chutes in car parking areas, where visitors are encouraged to deposit bagged and bottled ‘waste’.

Used with care, the Scottish countryside can be enjoyed by all (even if that means it gets busy, and loses the ‘isolation’ factor), and visitors can do worse than take a moment to familiarise themselves with both the Rights, and the Responsibilities, that the Scottish Outdoor Access Code provides.