5 May 1998

Introduction

Insensitive transport developments and the impact of increasingly easy access to remote areas by car threatens mountaineers' enjoyment of the space and peace of such areas. The Mountaineering Council of Scotland recognises that mountaineers and walkers contribute to the damage that can be caused by transport as they need transport to get within walking distance of mountains and crags.

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland believes that in today's environment everyone, including mountaineers, has an obligation to think about their use of transport and, in particular, the car. This paper sets out the Mountaineering Council of Scotland's policy principles with respect to preservation of the environment and the transport needs of mountaineers and walkers, conscious of the potential conflict between these, and the resulting need for careful planning and consultation in all transport and transport-related developments.

1. Improvements to roads and increased car ownership make it easier for people to get to the hills with the result that previously relatively-unfrequented places are becoming more and more popular. Trips that were once major undertakings can now be realised in a much shorter time (some previously-remote areas are now only day trips from the Central Belt). Whilst this benefits the mountaineer, walker, tourist and others, the resulting increase in the volume of traffic and increased speed on upgraded roads detract from the wilderness experience generally sought by those visiting these areas. The increase in visitors calls for increased car parking provision in order to avoid unsafe or inconsiderate parking but this inflicts its own damage, unless sensitively planned.

2. Transport developments threaten the natural environment and are encroaching further into the dwindling reserve of wild land. Road building and road improvement schemes damage areas of natural beauty, particularly where there is insensitive location/design. Examples of this include blasted sections of road, the use of metal safety barriers in designated National Scenic Areas and bulldozed and insensitively-located car parks. (See Appendix 1 on car park design in mountain areas). Additional road building and widening increase the demand for aggregate, leading to proposals for super-quarries which provide a further threat to wild land, for example, at Glen Sanda and Lingerabay.

   Road developments near Arisaig on the A830 to Mallaig show little sensitivity to the scenic quality of the area.

3. The use of aircraft to take tourists into remote areas (for example, the recent proposal to run tourist flights over The Cuillin of Skye), military flying and the increased use of all-terrain/4x4 vehicles for off-road leisure activities in sensitive, scenic areas (for example, the Corrieyairack Pass) all pose further threats to the wild land experience.

1. Mountaineers and walkers tend to have special transport needs because of the geographical remoteness of many mountain/crag areas which are often not served by public transport. The car, therefore, is, and is likely to remain, an important means of transport for people visiting the hills.

2. Public transport can, however, in certain cases play an important role to play in giving such areas, both for those with no car and for those wishing to reduce their reliance on the car. This can happen where the public transport system meets their needs as far as possible, with train and bus timetables scheduled to allow access to mountain/crag areas at convenient times and with services that meet mountaineers' needs (for example, with facilities for the carriage of bicycles, rucksacks and touring skis.

3. Public transport for those going into the hills needs to take account of the essential nature of mountaineering. While careful planning is a pre-requisite, factors can arise (such as a change in the weather or climbing conditions) which reasonably prevent a return to a fixed point at a definite time. Fall-back transport provision is then desirable (for example, an evening as well as later afternoon train south from Corrour Halt).

1. Present public transport provision does not meet mountaineers' needs. While any reduction in public transport services will worsen the situation, not only for mountaineers and walkers, but also for the economy of remote communities that would otherwise have been visited, conversely any improvements to services should improve the situation. Research has shown the considerable benefit that mountaineers and walkers bring to such areas.

2. Provision of adequate, albeit skeleton, services needs to be backed by easily accessible information about routes and timetables, including those for weekend ferry services.

3. High fares can be a deterrent as can the levying of high charges for transporting bicycles which are often used to assist in getting into remoter areas where there are suitable tracks. This also applies to touring skis.

4. Car parking can be a serious problem in many mountain areas, for example, until recently at the start of the Alt a'Mhuillinn walk-in to Ben Nevis). There can be unreasonable restrictions on parking by local landowners or unreasonably high parking charges. Such problems can force people to park in unsuitable places. In addition, mountaineers may be put at risk walking to and from hills and crags where no provision is made for walkers, for example there is no footpath alongside the A82 through Glen Coe where one is very much needed.

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland recognises the important social and economic arguments for improved access for communities in mountain areas. It is, however, vital that planning and implementation of necessary transport developments take adequate account of protection of the environment and the economic benefits to such communities from visitors seeking areas of wild, natural beauty. Accordingly the Mountaineering Council of Scotland's policy is to:-

Guidance to mountaineers and walkers

1. Encourage mountaineers and others to recognise the impact they cause through use of the car to get to remote areas and the desirability of reducing their reliance on the car through using public transport where feasible and car sharing;

2. Encourage mountaineers to be responsible and considerate in their use of the car in remote and/or mountain areas (for example, the need to park with due consideration to other road users/local residents);

1. Impress upon relevant bodies the potential role of public transport in meeting mountaineer's transport needs. These include adequate public transport services to major centres of mountaineering activity, improvements in timetables with appropriate stopping places, additional bus and rail services from centres of population to and from the major centres of mountaineering activity (for example, additional Friday/Sunday evening services to/from places such as Fort William, Braemar, Glen Coe), better integration of existing public transport services (for example, bus links from stations and the co-ordination of bus/rail timetables to make public transport more comprehensive and user-friendly in remote areas) and services that are recreation friendly (for example, trains with the facility to carry bicycles and at a reasonable charge);

2. Support, where appropriate, the use of experimental park and ride/minibus schemes in areas where the volume of traffic and/or demand for car parking appears to be exceeding existing capacity (rather than expansion of car parking provision etc);

3. Argue for and support more comprehensive marketing of public transport services to encourage their recreational use;

4. Continue work to resolve specific traffic/access problems as and when these arise (including the retention and re-opening of existing car parking facilities) through liaison with local authorities, land owners etc;

   Impact of transport on the mountain environment

5. Try to ensure that the dwindling reserve of wild land and the mountain environment are protected from inappropriate or insensitive transport developments through, for example, proper provision covering transport and related developments in the planning system;

6. Encourage authorities to ensure that all upgrading road works and construction of associated facilities, such as car parking, are carried out to the highest design standards in order to minimise the impact in wild land areas;

7. Encourage the relevant government bodies to set limits on the use of mechanised transport in areas of wild land and national scenic beauty;

See also supplementary Mountaineering Council of Scotland note on car park design in rural areas

© The Mountaineering Council of Scotland 1998