Wildlife watching in Cairngorm

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by Richard G.

In fact, my impression was that this little announcement was more for the safety of the passengers who might underestimate the mountain than for any other reason.

You only have to look at the complete lack of vegetation on a very wide path between the Ptarmigan and the summit to see that it's not just the safety of the visitor that needs to be considered. I last visited Cairngorm three years ago (and walked up because otherwise we were not suposed to be able to leave the Ptarmigan). My understanding was that if you didn't walk up you couldn't walk around - a very good way of limiting the damage that could potentially be caused by excessive trampling IMO.

Roy.

[earthdragon64]

Originally Posted by RoyW

You only have to look at the complete lack of vegetation on a very wide path between the Ptarmigan and the summit to see that it's not just the safety of the visitor that needs to be considered. I last visited Cairngorm three years ago (and walked up because otherwise we were not suposed to be able to leave the Ptarmigan). My understanding was that if you didn't walk up you couldn't walk around - a very good way of limiting the damage that could potentially be caused by excessive trampling IMO.

Roy.

That is in fact the main idea behind the restrictions. There were concerns that by not restricting access, far more people would go for a walk on sensitive habitat than would normally walk all the way up, and that an awful lot of damage and footpath erosion would occur.

[Richard G.]

Originally Posted by RoyW

You only have to look at the complete lack of vegetation on a very wide path between the Ptarmigan and the summit to see that it's not just the safety of the visitor that needs to be considered.

But there is a pitched path, 2-3 metres wide, from Ptarmigan to the weather station, with wooden posts, from top to bottom, showing either side of the path when it's snow covered. I don't know why they would have built this, if they didn't anticipate some of the funicular passengers using it? It's not likely you would use this path if ascending from the ski centre, I certainly never have?

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Richard G.

But there is a pitched path, 2-3 metres wide, from Ptarmigan to the weather station, with wooden posts, from top to bottom, showing either side of the path when it's snow covered. I don't know why they would have built this, if they didn't anticipate some of the funicular passengers using it? It's not likely you would use this path if ascending from the ski centre, I certainly never have?

The path predates the funicular by a long time. It was there when the 'old' Ptarmigan cafe was there. You then could go up by ski lift or walk up the track. It was laid because of the errosion of the last 600ft or so.

Jim

[Richard G.]

So certainly built to cope with the volume of walkers expected from Ptarmigan to the summit.

I dunno, if it was a condition of the funiculars planning grant, then I can't argue that they should be enforcing it more stringently than my experience suggests.