06 Mar 2023 Volunteer maintenance programme dates announced
OATS is delighted to announce the first 15 dates of the 2023 volunteer upland path maintenance programme:
April
Monday 03 – Dubh Loch- Loch Muick start, Balmoral – NO SPACES AVAILABLE
Tuesday 04 – Coire Cash and Broad Cairn- Loch Muick start, Balmoral – NO SPACES AVAILABLE
Monday 10 – Carn Ban Mor, Glen Feshie
Sunday 16 – Mayar, Glen Clova
Monday 17 – The Snub and Loch Brandy, Glen Clova
May
Monday 08 – Lairig Ghru, Glenmore
Sunday 14 – Dreish, Glen Clova
Monday 15 – Beinn a Ghlo
June
Monday 05 – Jocks road from Glen Callater, Braemar
Tuesday 06 – Glen Callater to Lochnagar path, Braemar
Monday 12 – Cairngorm area path; likely Bynack Mor
July
Monday 03 – Cairngorm Plateau
Tuesday 04 – Lairig an Laoigh Fords of Avon (from Glenmore side)
Sunday 09 – Glittering Skellies, Balmoral
Monday 10 – Glas Allt path, Balmoral
We are keen for current OATS volunteers to sign up, and urge those path users keen to give something back to the trails they enjoy through path maintenance volunteering to give it a try.
For further details on our scheduled volunteer upland maintenance days and to sign up, please e-mail Shona Irvine, our Activity Projects Manager – [email protected].
Volunteer maintenance days
OATS volunteer maintenance days include path maintenance and erosion control, and other practical conservation work. Volunteers work alongside experienced people, learning techniques that enhance their practical conservation skills, and increase their knowledge of the natural and cultural heritage of our mountains.
Our volunteer days give people the chance to get involved and play their part to protect and enhance upland habitats in a fun and welcoming environment. All you need is good general fitness and experience in the outdoors, tools are provided and no prior path work experience is required.
14 to 18-year-olds are welcome to join in as long as they are accompanied by a responsible adult.
Shona Irvine, Activity Projects Manager for OATS, who heads up the annual path maintenance volunteer programme, said: “On our mountain path maintenance days volunteers help to repair erosion to the footpath, prevent further damage caused by rainfall, and repair sections of path in order to encourage users to stick to the original path line.
“This is centred around what is known as a ‘drainage run’, walking the route of the path with the OATS volunteer manager and other volunteers, and clearing the drainage features as you go. It is basically a fantastic hill walk on an iconic Scottish mountain, with a spade, and making essential repairs as you go – a great day out in the hills.This work is vitally important to ensure the built paths are kept in a good condition, protecting the surrounding landscape and maintaining the accessibility of the hills for outdoors enthusiasts. You’ll also make new friends.
“If you are part of a group, a club, a school, a business, or an organisation looking for a volunteering opportunity, we can help you get involved by tailoring activities to suit your needs.”
A quick thank you to OATS volunteers from Shona Irvine for their hard work in 2022
“That’s the upland path maintenance programme finished for the season. Thanks to all of our volunteers who came along. In total we had around 30 days across the Cairngorms National Park and cleared a huge number of cross drains and waterbars. A good start!
“It was a fantastic effort from our 50 or so volunteers who walked into a hill path and put their backs into it. I would like to give a particular thanks to those volunteers who managed to make it along to multiple sessions. It is a great help, and hopefully next year we can begin to tackle a few problem areas on certain paths as well as keeping up the maintenance days of clearing drainage features.”