The Friends of the North Highland Way are working to develop a multi use route across the north of Scotland focussing on existing infrastructure and maintenance, not building new paths.

This also looks at the science on the route with the Marine Conservation Society, Seawatch Foundation and other users of the infrastructure. It is important to get infrastructure right, due to the impact of climate change on especially on peatbog.

The management company  works closely with landowners, public bodies, the renewables sector and heritage societies progressively to open up the north coast to walkers, horse riders and cyclists. With the demise of the Sutherland Space Port, we are looking at ways of using the site . It still aims to set up for Scotland a dual route, one over the mountains and the other a coastal multi use route (the only one in Scotland) matching that which the National Trust has set up in England and Wales."

What is planned to be the only multi use route in Scotland, the North Highland Way has heritage and cultural links through the gateway to the North Highland Way and the route of the Spanish Armada, as far north as Westray and the Fair Isles.

The project is supported in kind  by VisitScotland, Nature Scot, The Highland Council (who are responsible for the Core Paths), and the Director is  currently engaging with the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency as well.

The company is looking to raise £5,000 through MyParkScotland to help support with co-ordinate the project, communication, additional signage and helping with path maintenance.

The main development of the North Highland Way is complete, and embodied in twelve issues of Environmental News, which are available on Amazon and Kindle.  However, some issues have been donated to the British Library, so not all of the set is available.

The Storying Paths  definitely applies to what we achieved with the North Highland Way project.  “Sharing the stories, songs, journeys, connections and celebrations of pathways, and walking them, is an act of liberation and re-engagement, Source: Stirling University”. The new project is wider, and includes the east coast between John o Groats and Inverness. We talk about the stories you can tell while you are enjoying the great outdoors. 

 The main roads are getting busy now due to the NC500.   However, if you get out and walk there are many geos and tiny beaches just waiting to be explored. The Caravan and Camping Club have a great scheme "Walking Wanderers" which encourages people to get out and walk, and not just drive around. VisitScotland are very enthusiastic as usual. We have no public money at all these days, and rely on donations and sponsorship.

Find out more a the Northhighlandexplorer Facebook Page 

TEXT Donation

You can support the North Highland Way project by text!!

To make a donation, text CLIMATE to 70460 to donate £5 or scan the QR code below...

This costs £5 plus a standard rate message. Alternatively, you can opt to give any whole amount up to £20, for example Text "CLIMATE20" to donate £20. Thanks!

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