29 July '04

The John Muir Trust, owner of the summit of Ben Nevis, in association with the Nevis Partnership (with permissions from other landowners), have started on their planned clean-up of the area. Their intention is, as far as possible, to restore its wild land qualities to be appreciated and enjoyed by present and future generations of visitors. In pursuit of this, they are removing artificial structures which are considered unneccessary.

The shelters at Carn Dearg and Coire Leis have now both been removed, leaving only the one at the summit, which will remain. (see map below for locations). The abseil posts have also been removed from Coire Leis.

The Carn Dearg shelter (owned by Lochaber Mountaineering Club), was located approximately one mile to the northwest of the main summit of Ben Nevis (Grid reference: NN 158718, Ordnance Survey map 41), whilst the Coire Leis shelter ( Grid reference: NN 174 714, Ordnance Survey map sheet 41) was located approximately 700 meters northeast of the summit and at a lower altitude, located at the back of Coire Leis.

As part of the overall process of managing the Ben Nevis area, the decision to remove the shelters was reached following careful consideration of all the safety issues by the Nevis Partnership. The Partnership's 'Mountain Management Group', (comprising representatives from the Northern Constabulary, Highland Council Ranger Service, Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, Lochaber Mountain Access Group, Mountaineering Council of Scotland and the John Muir Trust) unanimously agreed that both shelters should be removed.

The main reasons for their removal are that the shelters are often buried in snow in winter and are frequently difficult to locate and enter; valuable time and energy may be spent looking for them in circumstances where it would be better to descend to safety. There are no recorded mountain rescues or incidents involving the shelters in the last ten years and they are not crucial navigational markers.

In total, approx 4 tonnes of scrap metal was removed, with the aid of a helicopter. Will Boyd-Wallis, the Policy & Partnerships Manager of the JMT, who helped in the work, said "It is, I hope that last time Ben Nevis will be blighted with such things. Perhaps the end of an era."

A poster is being displayed in the area to advise of the changes.     poster

For further debate on what markers and shelters should be kept on Ben Nevis, click here.

The summit area is owned by The John Muir Trust. Their policy on restoring the mountain can be read here.