Path cleaners show the way forward
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Transition Black Isle, a group which tries to encourage sustainable living, had been lobbied by locals over the issue and found a group of people happy to undertake some footpath maintenance while enjoying a walk together.
A 20-strong party armed with pruning saws, loppers, secateurs and strong gloves arrived by bus at North Kessock pier for the 11km walk back to Munlochy.
The plan was to walk a section of the newly created John o’ Groats Trail which starts from Inverness, passes over the Kessock Bridge and continues in 14 stages to the northern outpost.
Jay Wilson, the mastermind and co-ordinator of the John o’ Groats Trail, joined the group for the walk.
The Black Isle section has been fully way-marked. Parts of the trail are new and link established footpaths, and Jay had negotiated rights of access to produce a logical route. An important aspect of the walk was to ensure these new links were clear of encroaching vegetation.
During the course of the walk, gorse, broom, overhanging branches and minor obstacles were cleared. The final tasks of the day were to add additional signs to a high-tide diversion by Munlochy Bay and clear gorse from a new section that replaces a tidal footpath below Bayhead.
Before and during the walk, many suggestions were made of where the group should next focus its activities. Paths in Spittal Wood, Fairy Glen, Bogallan Wood, Agnes Hill and Swallow Den, the A9 underpass at North Kessock, and Avoch-Fortrose railway line were all put on a list.
The group plans to meet monthly and would welcome new active members and champions who could “Adopt-a Path”, especially those where access is becoming difficult through neglect.
Transition Black Isle member Julian Paren said: “The walk was great fun, and a real difference was made.”
For future activities and more information, contact Julian Paren on julian.paren@gmail.com
