High ambition: call for Ben Nevis to be named Scotland’s national mountain
Ben Nevis should be officially recognised as Scotland’s national mountain due to its international fame and cultural and historical significance, according to the charity which takes care of the iconic landmark.
As lockdown easing continues, the Nevis Landscape Partnership is anticipating a massive influx of people coming to the area to spend time in the Scottish outdoors and reconnect with nature.
This has raised serious concerns over the possible negative impacts on the area after littering became a major issue in many beauty spots last year.
The organisation is calling for the mountain and glen to receive national recognition and financial support to help preserve the local environment, provide facilities for visitors and support responsible tourism.
Standing 1,345m tall, Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the UK.
It was first officially conquered in 1771 by Edinburgh botanist James Robertson, and today the mountain and surrounding glen attract more than 400,000 visitors each year.
Numbers have doubled in the last 20 years and this trend is set to continue.
Nevis Landscape Partnership chair Mike Pescod, said: “We are blessed in Scotland with abundant natural resources to rival the best in the world, and it is clear that the Scottish Government recognises that we have a duty to protect and enhance these
assets as essential to our economy, culture, way of life and the well-being of future generations.
“However, for the Nevis area this is a critical moment.
“If we are to continue to welcome everyone who wants to explore the Nevis area and take advantage of the well-understood benefits to health and well-being, we need to have a long-term structure in place
that will care for our visitors as well as for the landscape and the nature that thrives in it.
“We need to develop a framework for a move towards a carbon-neutral circular economy which directs funds raised from visitors to Ben Nevis and Glen Nevis into visitor and environmental management of the Nevis area.”
Work to increase provisions in the area has already begun
– including establishing a new car park with toilets and other facilities.
But many of the charity’s bigger plans depend on further funding.
Mr Pescod added: “Ben Nevis and Glen Nevis benefits people, our local communities, it drives our visitor economy and plays an important role in reaching CO2 and global warming targets.
“However, to ensure the Nevis area can be sustainably enjoyed by future generations we need to put in place new, secure, long-term resources to care for this unique national landscape.
“At the same time we must also be aware that Glen Nevis has internationally acclaimed cultural and natural heritage assets.
“In balancing economic driv
ers we must be careful not to detract from the very qualities which make Ben Nevis and Glen Nevis a unique place to live and to visit.”
Areas designated as national parks – Scotland currently has two, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and Cairngorms – receive government support to help promote access.