30 May The Old Man of Storr path renovation project completed

The Highland Council’s pathworks project at Old Man of Storr on the Isle of Skye, managed in association with OATS, has been completed.

The project involved the repair of a large-scale erosion scar on the main path to the Old Man of Storr on the north of Skye, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and nationally important for its flora, base-rich upland habitats and a range of geological features.

The renovation works on 600m of the existing path to the Old Man of Storr was carried out by Principal Contractor McGowan Environmental Engineering from Aviemore. The completion date was delayed as a direct result of site works being closed down for a few months in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The works had previously made good progress before it was forced to shutdown, with the majority of path material bagged and ready for helicopter lift onto the hillside.

Once the material had been lifted into the affected areas work could continue to make the path fit for visitors and reduce the erosion and vegetation loss that has slowly been progressing over the years.

Read more about the project and the various challenges of working at this remote location faced by the contractor, McGowan Environmental Engineering:

https://mcgowanltd.co.uk/news/2021/project-complete-the-old-man-of-storr-pathway-improvements

The Storr path renovation project was funded by both the Rural, Tourism & Infrastructure Fund (RTIF) and Scottish Government Rural Payments & Inspections Directorate (SGRPID).