Field Notes: A dynamic landscape

Nevis Manager Alison Austin reports on the heavy lifting that's occasionally required to keep the path at Steall Gorge in Glen Nevis open.

Our aim is to use a light touch when working on the Steall Gorge footpath. Each year we repair and clear cross drains (pictured above), stone pitching and steps and rebuild the edging and revetment so that the path remains wide enough to walk along. The challenge is all this has to be done on a narrow path (and work zone), beside a steep drop and with limited available stone for building.

Recently we observed a short section where walkers were starting to take a line very close to the edge, (see yellow line on before and after pics below) instead of the safer inside line. As this outside new line became eroded, more people took this less safe line along the edge where a slip could have very serious consequences.
To avoid this erosion causing the path edge to fail, our path contractors spent two days moving some very big rocks. They rebuilt the edging to steer walkers back to a more robust (and rocky) inside line and built that section up to make it more even. The old line is now blocked and built up with stone and vegetation.

There is still a bit more work to do to - but that is a task for next year’s maintenance contract. This recent fix will help steer visitors back to the safer route at the most dangerous point and reduce the potential of any serious landslip of the path edge. It’s a dynamic landscape to keep an eye on.

Further along the path, our Conservation Officer Kati's been doing basic path maintenance by clearing out the last bits of leaf litter from cross drains and water bars to make sure the ditches all drain well. Hopefully this will help to keep the path in better condition as we see more winter visitors using the route.

• Find out more about our work at Nevis.