Anyone who has approached the north face of Ben Nevis from Torlundy in recent years will appreciate how badly the path is eroding. This adds to the time and energy taken and reduces the overall enjoyment of the day. In winter this aspect of climbing on Ben Nevis is particularly taxing when also confronted by the added problems of poor weather and short daylight hours. Visiting climbers from Europe and North America have commented that the state of the path would not be allowed in their countries.

The Lochaber Mountain Access Group (LMAG) has been campaigning for a better path on the approach to the North Face and trying to raise funds for the work. LMAG is a constituted Community Association who formed in February 2001 as a response to the Foot and Mouth Outbreak.

In the last year LMAG have raised £54,000 towards the Allt a'Mhuilinn, Ben Nevis north face approach from Torlundy. The bulk of this cash has been pledged by The North Face, who climbers will know as a world brand in the manufacture of mountain tents and outdoor clothing. Smaller pledges of £1,000 each have been made by Outward Bound Scotland, West Coast Outdoor Leisure and West Coast Mountain Guides. Climbers have donated almost £1,000.

The work which LMAG wishes to see undertaken is as follows:

• The renovation of Allt a' Mhuilinn path from the North face Car Park to the CIC Hut
• The line of the Path needs to be re-evaluated to provide an improved line of access, which will minimise damage through the further erosion on the current line and improve the quality of access for users, reduce land use conflicts, create a spectacular new low level viewpoint and improve safety.
• New Signage on the A82 at Torlundy and at the turn into the Leanachan Forest
• The Forest Road to the new North Face Car Park needs to be metalled in order to prevent further erosion of the road surface, and minimise potential damage to cars.
• The North Face Car Park needs to be enlarged to include a camping site, rubbish bins and WC facilities to minimise damage caused by wild camping, overuse of car park, litter and poor sanitation.
• During exploration of the area where the path is proposed, LMAG have identified the location of a possible viewpoint, which also has possibilities as a climber's memorial. This last point is also connected with the wishes of the Nevis Partnership, who are keen to stop the proliferation of commemorative plaques on the summit of Ben Nevis. LMAG are in discussion with the Scottish Arts Council to identify possible methods of funding for this particular part of the project.

During the negotiation process, a block of woodland above the Torlundy car park was made available to LMAG to purchase and develop. If this land were in the hands of a sympathetic organisation it would make much of the pathwork building a lot easier to achieve, especially in relation to creating a more direct line into the Allt a'Mhuilinn. Anyone who wishes to obtain more details of the woodland should contact the LMAG Chairman (Dave Wilson) on 01397 701806 or email Dave Wilson at limetree.studio@btinternet.com.
The woodland runs to around 412 acres and is currently planted commercially.

Alan Kimber now reports:

Cheque for £10,000 handed over by The North Face

On 29th May 2003 a cheque for £10,000 was handed over by The North Face to the Nevis Partnership as the first portion of cash towards repair and development of the track leading to the CIC Hut on Ben Nevis. Topher Gaylord (TNF European Marketing Director) came over from Italy and was accompanied by Phil Ham, also of TNF marketing in Great Britain. The presentation took place at the start of the track in fairly typical Scottish weather. Receiving the cheque on behalf of Nevis Partnership was Neil Clark (Chairman) and other Directors and members. Neil thanked TNF for this generous cash donation which would attract matching funding from a variety of other sources. This handover marks the start of work on the track this coming summer. Over the next five years TNF have pledged a further £40,000. In reply to Neil Clark, Topher Gaylord said that it was very appropriate for TNF to be putting something back into the mountains in this way and the fact that it was towards work on the approach to the north face of the most famous mountain in Britain was even more special. Topher and Phil were presented with bottles of 'Special Reserve' Ben Nevis Malt Whisky to mark the occasion.

Further donations can be made to LMAG and sent to Dave Wrigglesworth, West Coast Outdoor Leisure, High St, Fort William. Details of the project are updated regularly and can be seen on www.westcoast-mountainguides.co.uk.