Access & Conservation News
Major Change at Cairngorm National Park
By Beryl Leatherland
A couple of weeks before you received your previous copy of the Scottish Mountaineer we heard that Andrew Thin, Convenor of the CNP, had been appointed to the post of Chair of Scottish Natural Heritage. Those members who attended this year’s Annual Gathering will remember that Andrew, in our “conservation slot” gave us an update on the current state of the park, the tasks being addressed, the activities of the Board and his vision for the future.
We understand that the new Convenor will be replaced by a member of the current Board, thereby leaving a vacancy which we hope will be filled by someone with similar interests and values to MCofS members. We wish Andrew success and fulfilment in his challenging new post.
Huntly’s Cave gets New Car Park
By Pete Crane
(Senior Visitor Services Officer, Moray Council)
Work has started on upgrading the lay-by used by climbers accessing the excellent crag at Huntly’s Cave, which will increase the capacity. The work is being funded by Cairngorm National Park Authority, Highland Council and Rees Jeffries Road Fund.
With the co-operation of Seafield Estate (the owner) they will also increase the verge at the rough pull off south of the lay-by, next to the stile, so that vehicles can not park here. This willmake the improved lay-by the preferred parking place. The path south from the lay-by will be upgraded (but not manicured) making safe access to the normal descent easy. Workswill be complete by mid October. You will also see a new Cairngorm National Park marker in the lay-by.
Celebrating Cuillin Climbers
By Kevin Howett
The MCofS reported on the proposal for a statue to be sited at Sligachan in the September 2005 Scottish Mountaineer. We have been in discussion over the past year, to support The Collie Mackenzie Sculpture Group, who have started the project to commemorate Norman Collie and John Mackenzie. Both men climbed extensively on Skye. The group are seeking help to raise funds to build a sculpture and associated features (car park, pathways, interpretation panels, etc). The costs are anticipated to be around £450,000 - £500,000.
J. Norman Collie, was a highly respected British scientist, mountaineer and explorer. He is best remembered in Scotland for his pioneering climbs on the Cuillin on the Isle of Skye (Sgurr Thormaid [Norman's Peak] is named after him) but he also climbed in the Alps with Slingsby and Mummery. After gaining climbing experience on the Alps, the Caucasus and the Himalaya, in 1897 he joined the Appalachian Club and spent the summer climbing in the Canadian Rockies. He made 6 expeditions to the Canadian Rockies making 19 first ascents including Mount Collie in Yoho National Park.
Collie held many positions in his life including: 1906 Honorary member of the Canadian Alpine club; 1920 President of the British Alpine club; 1922 Honorary President of The Cairngorm Club; 1923 Chairman of the Mt Everest Committee; 1924 Vice President of the Royal Geographic Society.
John Mackenzie was born at Sconser on the Isle of Skye, in a crofter's cottage. When he was ten, Mackenzie climbed Sgurr nan Gillean; aged 14 he was with a Mr Tribe on the first recorded ascent of Sgurr a'Ghreadaidh. In 1874, with Alexander Nicolson, he made the first ascent of Sgurr Dubh. Mackenzie was then 18.
In fact, he was on virtually every significant ascent in Skye for over 50 years. What makes this even more impressive is the fact that along the way he had become a professional guide, the first native Scot to do so.
All who knew and climbed with him were in agreement that he was "a most loveable, charming, and delightful companion". He had, wrote one later historian, "the characteristics of the Highlander; the courtesy joined to self-respect that are the heritage of the clans." Strong-featured and tanned by the Skye weather (good and bad!); his working clothes were the loose tweed jacket and knickerbockers with a stalker's cap. Add a beard, whiskers and moustache and you had Mackenzie.
Mackenzie never climbed outside of Britain; he was content with his Cuillin, his croft and almost as important, his fishing. Mackenzie made many first ascents in the Cuillin of Skye including the first ascent of Sgurr Mhic Choinnich (1887), the Thearlaich-Dubh Gap (1891), Banachdich Gully & King's Cave Chimney (1898) and the Cioch (1906, and named by Mackenzie).
The friendship between Collie and Mackenzie lasted from 1886 until the guide's death in 1933. In these class-conscious days it was very unusual for someone of Collie's class to develop a friendship outside of his own circle but then the mountains have a bonding effect and both Collie and Mackenzie were possessed of a deep humanity. Collie also had a deep friendship with a Canadian similar to Mackenzie, Fred Stephens, a trail guide and packer.
There is a website (http://www.skyesculpture.com/) with an online donations facility and a message board to leave comments.
Monadhliath Bulldozed Track
MCofS Member Hamish Johnston was walking recently in the Monadhliaths, specifically from Strathdearn to Carn na Saobhaidhe (811m) and found a bulldozed track terminating within 30 metres of the summit cairn. The track starts in the north – apparently connected to the network of tracks servicing the big wind turbine on Carn Crom-gleann (GR605175). After progressing southwards it forks, with one fork continuing to the upper slopes of Cairn Carn Mhic Iamhair (GR612146), and the other fork towards the summit of Carn na Saobhaidhe.
After last issues article concerning the Executive review of ‘Permitted Development’ and considering the scale of the track, its ‘drains’ and where it is, Hamish enquired of the purpose of the track of Highland Council Planners.
It appears it was built in 2003 under permitted development by the Dunmaglass Estate (owned by Bahamas-based property developer Jack Hayward) for sporting and farming purposes. But this has sparked concern that the tracks were actually built for the proposed wind factory (in which case they would require planning permission) and which is being fought against by neighbouring estates including the Tetra Pack heiress Sigrid Rausing who owns the Coignafearn Estate. The Courier ran a story on this on 25th August and it highlights the failings of the planning system regarding bulldozed tracks – the MCofS having been notified of many recently leading high into wild land areas. Our Hill Tracks and Vehicles Policy outlines our opposition to tracks diminishing wild land and we have lobbied for change in planning legislation for years.
Energy Watch
Update on wind factories and other related energy issues
Skye Wind Factory
All over Britain, people are trying to stop wind factories from despoiling fine landscapes; Gillian Widdecombe explains what is special about Edinbane on Skye
Edinbane is a 19th century crofting village in the wild north of the Isle of Skye. An unspoilt sea loch bites into basalt cliffs and craggy moorland. The village drifts up into the hills. It is so quite here that voices echo across the loch. To the south, the dark, sharp Cuillin range peeps over the horizon; to the north lie the hills of Trotternish, including the most spectacular ancient landslip scenery in Britain. People come here to walk, relish the volatile skies, and escape their cluttered lives. And here Amec, a multinational support services corporation, intends to build a large windfarm that will dominate the little village and be visible from all the famous beauty spots at this end of the island.
They have not succeeded yet, after four years of misery for the village – crudely split between those who will benefit and those who will lose out. Amec’s first application was a travesty of good practice: they might have got away with the usual misleading photomontages, but their failure to report the threat to protected birds eventually came home to roost.
A little history would have helped. The old Norse name for the loch beside Edinbane was Arnisort, meaning Eagle’s Loch: the eagles are returning – juvenile golden eagles born in the Cuillin, and even more importantly, sea eagles formerly extinct in Britain but patiently reintroduced by the RSPB.
Planning permission was given in November 2002, but after a great deal of legal argument was knocked back, thanks to the painstaking efforts of a few well-informed locals and the discreet activity of the RSPB in Edinburgh.
It is often the case that when a planning application fails, the developer simply revises its plans and submits it again. And so it is with Edinbane. Amec’s latest attempt at turning the hills above Edinbane into an industrial site reduces the number of turbines to 18, but keeps those which the planning officer had originally wanted removed because they would be too close to the village.
In Edinbane there is a good mix of tourist accommodation, from a spacious, well-equipped campsite beside the loch to three family run hotels and a wide range of self-catering cottages. Yet Amec’s new application would have us believe that tourism is not important to Edinbane!
Another good reason for rejecting Amec’s third (yes, third!) application is that since their first attempt a rival developer has got full permission for a line of 10 turbines nearby at Ben Aketil. The cumulative effect of the two schemes would saturate the north of the island, making the road which runs like a necklace from Portree to Dunvegan a 10 mile circuit round 28 huge turbines.
Birds will go, tourists not return. The landscape will be degraded so that “green” electricity can allow English cities to keep their televisions on ‘standby’. Edinbane will have little to show for the loss of its unique situation.
It should not happen!
The local action group will, if necessary, pursue this issue via the courts - they've got nowhere with Highland Council and believe the latter have acted illegally.Legal advice is currently being sought. They are appealing for funds, as this will be very costly.You can help by contacting John Hodgson at
jbphodgson@dialstart.net;or Tel: 01470 582 201 or Hazel Abendschein at Skyelodge@aol.com or Tel: 01470 582217
See the website for the Skye Windfarm Action Group at http://www.sw-ag.org/
Public Inquiry on Power Line Upgrade
By Beryl Leatherland
The proposed upgrade to the overhead electricity transmission line between Beauly and Denny will be referred to a public inquiry.
It is hoped that the inquiry will start in early 2007 and that the report will be submitted to Ministers by the end of 2007 for a final decision.
Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) and Scottish Power Transmission (SPT) Limited application is seeking consent under Section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 for their proposal for an upgraded 400 kV overhead electricity transmission line between Beauly and Denny.
Besides this authorisation under the Electricity Act, the applicants have further proposals to acquire the necessary land and to construct sub-stations. These components of the development have not yet been referred to Scottish Ministers for decision.
An extensive consultation exercise concluded on 30 April 2006 with over 17,000 representations received. The five Planning Authorities within whose boundaries the proposed development falls (Highland Council, Perth and Kinross Council, Stirling Council, Falkirk Council and Cairngorm National Park Authority) have all objected to the application.
Sma’ Glen Saved
By Kevin Howett
Ministers have announced that consent to build a wind factory at Abercairny near Crieff by Catamount Energy Ltd has been declined. Perth and Kinross Council objected to the application and the case was referred to a Public Inquiry which was held in Crieff in May 2005.
The Inquiry Reporter recommended rejection of the application because the proposed development would have significant adverse impacts on the local environment:
- “the proposal would not serve to preserve the natural beauty of the area”
- “some sites which, although not designated, have some historic and architectural interests which may not be protected”
Deputy Minister for Enterprise Allan Wilson said: "I agree with the reporters Findings of Fact and the conclusion to reject and therefore I am withholding consent in this instance." A copy of the Inquiry Report is available at www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/business-industry/infrastructure/19185/18734.
There now remains the forthcoming Public Inquiry for the proposed Griffin Forest and Calliachar wind factories surrounding Amulree, due in November 2006, which surely would be even more damaging to the local natural beauty?