Quinag Paths Get Upgrade

© Chris Puddephatt

Work has recently been completed on the popular path up Quinag, in the north west Highlands. Owned and managed by the John Muir Trust (JMT), Quinag covers 3,699 hectares of the Assynt–Coigach National Scenic Area in Sutherland and is one of the great mountains of the far northwest, with its extensive coastal views and three distinctive peaks.

Upgrading the path clearly involved a lot of hard work  © Chris Puddephatt
Upgrading the path clearly involved a lot of hard work
© Chris Puddephatt

Quinag's accessibility and location on the North Coast 500 route make it a magnet for walkers, say the JMT, and its footpath has seen an ever-increasing footfall in recent years, particularly through the summer of 2020 with increased visitors to the site after the first Covid-19 lockdown.

Despite a lot of previous repair work, there were still eroded patches which needed repairing to prevent further damage. In 2020 the Trust started work on the steep path towards the Sail Gharbh summit and in December, the final ascent – a 70-metre section of very badly eroded path - was restored and upgraded.

The skilled path contractors completed stonework and cross drains to help stabilise sections that had deteriorated into crumbling and loose morasses.

"Airlifting 30 tonnes of stone from the opposite face of the mountain was a mammoth task" said Romany Garnett, John Muir Trust's Quinag Conservation Officer who helps manage the site. "But we're confident that the stone pitching in place now provides walkers with a much safer and more robust route to the summit".

Lower down the hill, a small team of John Muir Trust staff and volunteers have been working to repair and resurface the beginning section of the stalkers path which had also become eroded and very muddy in places.

"This isn't the end of our work though" says Romany, "We have plans in place to continue with a programme of repairs and upgrades as soon as funding allows."

The work was undertaken by ACT Heritage and managed by the John Muir Trust, who maintain the mountain's path network which provides access to the summit and stunning views over the peaks and lochans of Sutherland, and beyond. It was funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, through the Coigach & Assynt Living Landscape Partnership scheme, and through the generosity of John Muir Trust members through the Wild Ways Path Appeal.


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