Visitors to be ‘engaged’ by outdoor access rangers

Visitors to Lochaber and Skye will have the chance to meet Highland Council’s seasonal outdoor access rangers who began patrols and visitor engagement on Friday April 1.

The local authority plans to build a team of at least 17 rangers by June, working through the high season and into early autumn.

The access rangers will be supporting location action plans (LAPs) for key tourist ‘hotspot’ destinations including: Road to the Isles – Arisaig/Morar, and Glen Brittle – Isle of Skye.

As well as engaging with the public, rangers will inform and educate people about access rights, wild camping, overcrowding, parking including overnight parking in motorhomes - littering, fires, damage to trees and outdoor toileting. They will also collect data on visitor numbers and capacity issues especially at popular sites.

In between patrols the rangers will liaise with communities and landowners when issues arise, working together on solutions. The council also hopes to recruit some local volunteer rangers to assist in busy periods.

Anyone interested in volunteering can contact accessrangers@highland.gov. uk or phone on 07909 051223.