Rangers on trail in ‘Cateran Country’
Funded posts for route
It will make a huge difference to the Cateran Trail visitor experience having a ranger team ... Andrew Barrie
The renowned Cateran Trail is to be maintained by specialist rangers until later this year.
Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust (PKCT) manages the 64-mile route, which starts and finishes in Blairgowrie, and recently confirmed it has enlisted Hushwing Ranger Service to provide support until October.
A PKCT spokesperson explained “one or two” rangers will be asked to provide visitor support and small-scale maintenance to the trail to promote access for all one day each week.
Funding has been received to deploy
Hushwing Ranger Service – described as “a co-operative of freelance countryside heritage rangers and creative educators” – to deliver accessible improvements to waymarking and signage, path
maintenance, clearing and repairs, adjusting gate hinges and wall repairs.
Andrew Barrie is PKCT’s strategic routes officer.
He admitted: “Managing all 64-miles of the Cateran Trail is tough work, especially for a small charity like us.
“So, it will make a huge difference to the Cateran Trail visitor experience having a ranger team carry out access and maintenance works as well as engaging with the public to raise awareness of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and remind them of their rights and their obligations
towards the countryside – like responsible camping.
“Our Hushwing Rangers will have the opportunity to liaise with local Perth and Kinross Council Visitor Management Rangers this summer to provide the best overall service for visitors, land managers and local communities.”
Callum McNeill-Ritchie, a senior countryside ranger at Hushwing Ranger Service, commented: “Our team of rangers is really looking forward to working on the Cateran Trail this summer.
“The picturesque countryside along
the whole route makes it a great place to work, and the variety of projects and activities to improve the route and engage with visitors will certainly keep us busy.
“I look forward to meeting people while out and about and hope they find our work beneficial to the accessibility and their appreciation of the route.”
Money for the project has been sourced from national agency NatureScot’s Better Places Green Recovery Fund, which aims to help communities and destinations start or develop further proactive visitor management in “hot spot” locations.