‘I came to the Highlands to give something back to the hills’: a volunteering trip in Scotland
I found two days of hard graft – repairing hiking paths with a conservation trust in stunningly remote Wester Ross – a surprisingly rewarding experience
TL;DR
- Volunteers participated in a two-day path maintenance and conservation project in Wester Ross, Scotland, organized by the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland (Oats).
- Tasks included unblocking ditches, removing invasive grasses, dredging, stabilizing soil, and repacking stone drains on the popular Stac Pollaidh peak.
- The initiative aims to promote sustainable public access and combat erosion caused by human misuse and extreme weather.
- Oats relies on voluntourism due to a lack of EU funding post-Brexit and a need for more manpower for path maintenance and habitat restoration.
- The experience provided volunteers with new practical skills, an understanding of mountain path design, and the satisfaction of contributing to conservation efforts in a scenic environment.