The Lochaber Mountain Access Group (LMAG) which was formed during last years unfortunate Foot and Mouth outbreak is continuing to lobby for a better path line into the Allt a'Mhuilinn. In recent years climbers and walkers have been forced away from the Golf Course approach and the old Distillery approach is not being used much either. Many climbers still park on the A82 trunk road in order to use the more direct approach across the Golf Course. This route is dangerous due to the fast blind bends on the road at this point. Also, climbers may be approached by golfers, annoyed at the climbers walking over the Golf Course.

Forest Enterprise, local climbers, guides and the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MC of S) negotiated for access to the forest and a new climbers car park (The North Face car park) was built. At the time the MC of S and the local Highland Council Rangers said that the line of the new path was not the most direct and in future we should look towards improving the line of the track to make it more direct. At present it is necessary for most people to walk for almost a kilometre up and down hill before gaining the upward track.

LMAG have identified what they consider is a new more logical and direct approach to the Allt a'Mhuilinn and are consulting with land-owners in the area. Please can you contact LMAG through Alan Kimber alan@westcoast-mountainguides.co.uk with your views on the access and state of the paths in the Allt a'Mhuilinn? We would like to get as many views as possible in order to push this idea forward. Do you feel that the current path could be improved, straightened or changed, or maybe you are happy with the present situation? All ideas are welcome, even if they do not match our own thinking. Democracy you know!

The first picture shows the line of the proposed track - through the plantation forest where it is hidden from view from the road. The second picture is the view as yoiu approach the Ben.

Alan Kimber writes:
A fund has been started by LMAG to help raise the cash for a good track on the Allt a'Mhulinn approach from Torlundy to the CIC Hut. It stands at £2000 just now and we are aiming for £100,000. All donations should be made payable to LMAG and sent to Dave Wrigglesworth at West Coast Outdoor Leisure, High St, Fort William, PH33 6AD.

We are sick and tired of waiting for the public purse to be bled on our behalf. We are aiming to do the job on our own. All donations will be receipted and a progress report will be posted on Alan Kimber's website.
Check out the responses so far at www.westcoast-mountainguides.co.uk

All of you out there who climb on the North Face of Ben Nevis please search your conscience and wallet and please help. We make a mess of the track, so we should fix it.

If you can offer path-building skills in lieu of cash we would also like to here from you.

Your mountains need you!!

Mick Greenshields writes:
Why start changing trail paths now when they have been like this for years
'WHY CHANGE SOMETHING WHEN IT WORKS '

Richard Spencer writes:
The path from the new car-park along the edge of the Golf Course, and then up the mud-slide is better than the "tourist route", but still could be improved. I warmly support the "we made the mess - we'll clear it up!" view. That has to be the responsible answer.

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