Guest Article

Healing Hands on the Hill

Roger Smith looks at the work of the Clachnaben Path Trust

Many of us have hills which hold a special place in our affections. I know I have. But how many of us ever think of giving something back to the hills?

Jim Maison did. Jim, a retired police officer from Forfar, has been a hillman most of his life. His travels have taken him to many different countries and to all the airts of Scotland, but the wee hill of Clachnaben within an hour of his home, was always a favourite excursion.

As it was indeed for many others; and therein lay both the problem and the start of the solution. Sitting on the hill one day in 1997 with his friend Phil Cramb, Jim commented on the state of the seriously eroded summit path, and the two men started to wonder if perhaps ‘something should be done about it’.

They thought, as the damage was caused by walkers, that walkers should take responsibility, so they started trying to find out how this might happen. They found a key supporter in Charles Gladstone, the owner of the Fasque and Glen Dye Estates. Jim and Phil set up a body called the Clachnaben Path Trust (CPT) and had the organisation accepted as a charity.

Donald Thomas and Rebecca Adron came on board as two more trustees, and the new Trust engaged Martin McCrorie as path advisor. Martin’s assessment was that the line of the summit path was far too direct. A new line with less severe gradients needed to be created, proper drainage put in, the path surfaced.

None of this comes cheap, and the estimate was £100,000. How on earth could a fledgling body even attempt to raise this sort of money? They went to every potential funding body they could think of, and they never gave up.

The MCofS ‘minded’ initial money until the charity was established, but one of CPT’s disappointments came with an appeal launched to hillwalking and mountaineering clubs. Of dozens of letters Jim had only 3 positive responses. One was from the Cairngorm Club, who made Clachnaben their Millennium Project.

Funding applications were prepared and major funders have included SNH, Aberdeenshire Council and the Gannochy Trust. CPT have received great support from the two public bodies throughout the life of the project. Through Phil’s business contacts support was received from his own company, Texaco North Sea, and from Bristow Helicopters, who used the project as training for their pilots. In this way materials were placed on site rapidly, saving countless days of toil. AAC Leuchars have carried out similar work.

Noranside Prison agreed to supply voluntary labour. Prison officer Peter McNicoll has become a regular visitor to Clachnaben with a minibus full of men on day release.

Gradually the project took shape. The lower section of the path, through woodland, was carefully drained, realigned where necessary, and given bottoming and a good walking surface. Higher up the old straight line route to the top was replaced by a more gradual, curving approach.

It was, of course, necessary to have professional input, and Northern Conservation, Axiss and Highland Conservation Services have all been involved, as has path expert Chris Cairns of Conserve and MCofS footpath experts.

But it is the amount of voluntary work which stands out, not least from the CPT trustees and Jim himself. His reward has been the creation of a splendid new path and the pleasure of seeing both the enjoyment people are getting from their visits and, most importantly, the healing of the hill itself.

The estate put in a new car park, and the first phase of the project culminated two years ago with the official opening performed by Cameron McNeish. But Jim, who is still chairman of CPT, sees this more as a beginning than an ending.

Discussions are ongoing with the estate to create a new circular route for those who may not wish to go up to the summit. This will take more funding (and the amount spent so far has reached nearly £200,000) but CPT are confident of raising the money.

The achievements of the Clachnaben Path Trust are an inspiration, and a lesson, to us all. There have been times when they despaired of getting anywhere, but they never gave up, and they have truly healed their hill. It is estimated that at least 20,000 people a year now visit Clachnaben, and all of them owe a great deal to Jim Maison and his fellow-workers.

There is surely potential for many more such projects in Scotland. Who’s next?

Roger Smith is a writer and access consultant, and for the past 3 years has chaired the NTS Countryside and Nature Conservation Committee. He also coordinates the annual Scottish Borders Festival of Walking (http://www.scot-borders.co.uk/).