Dangerous route
THE new St Conan’s Pilgrims’ Way from Iona to St Andrews is an ‘accident waiting to happen’.
A PROPOSED walking route on Mull has been labelled an accident waiting to happen.
A charity in Dalmally says the coastal path could attract people from all over the world if it was developed.
Volunteers and staff from Craig Lodge Trust have been working for the past five years on a route from their premises in Dalmally to Iona.
In June this year, 20 people embarked on the 60-mile walk. People from all over the world took part, enjoying ‘some of the most beautiful parts of Argyll’.
‘The challenge came when we arrived on Mull,’ Callum MacFarlane-Barrow, from Craig Lodge Trust, said. ‘The majority of walkers preferred the coastal route and were disappointed, to put it mildly, when they could not complete the Lochbuie to Carsaig walk.
‘The rope at the halfway point was too dangerous to use. It was not long enough and the safety stewards deemed the route unsafe so the group had to turn back, await the support vehicle and forego the stunning views of that very special coastal walk to Carsaig.
‘The main road from Craignure to Fionnphort also has its dangers. It proved extremely demanding for the stewards as they chaperoned the party of walkers on the very busy single-track road.
‘Passing places proved hazardous because there was nowhere for the walkers to go if it was occupied by a car.
‘Trying to move the group to a position of safety to allow cars, vans and campervans to pass was difficult and very stressful for all concerned.
‘Many of us felt it would only be a matter of time before serious accident occurs.
‘We have an opportunity to develop an area of tourism that is second to none and that will benefit this area economically a and ecologically but it is being hampered due to safety and access issues.
‘The spectacular coastal route should be developed using imagination and ambition to provide a safe way for walkers and a cycle/walk path adjacent to the A849 should be constructed without delay.’
A spokesman for Argyll and Bute Council said: ‘We would be supportive of any initiative which also has landowner support and happy to work with the local community and landowners to support applications for funding to undertake path improvements, as we have done elsewhere.
‘We supported an application by the Mull and Iona Community Trust to improve the path to the lighthouse north of Tobermory.
‘The path between Aird Ghlas and Carsaig Arches on Mull is designated as a core path.
‘However, there is no obligation on the council or the landowner to maintain or improve the route.
‘We are aware of an aspiration to see a route from Craignure and the Ross of Mull, forming part of a longer pilgrims’ route from St Andrews to Iona.
‘This has the support of the Scottish Government and Scottish Natural Heritage, and there is funding available for community organisations to improve paths, including the coastal section of the route on Mull, from the government’s Improving Public Access grant scheme.
‘We will continue to provide advice and support to groups where we can.’