On the right track

As we launch our Steall Gorge Appeal to raise £75k, Nevis Manager Steph McKenna gives an insight into our plans to maintain, repair and upgrade our Nevis paths.

Nevis is a magnet for hill walkers and hikers of all abilities. Latest estimates show that 167,000+ climb Ben Nevis, with up to 100,000 walking the Steall Gorge footpath in Glen Nevis.

As well as coping with ever increasing footfall, our Nevis paths also need to withstand high rain and snowfall, high winds and frequent fluctuations in temperature. This all means the Trust must undertake regular vital work to look after the 9 km of footpaths in our care there.

Nevis Manager Steph McKenna says: “A footpath used by walkers, is a footpath that protects the sensitive and breathtaking habitats it passes through. It’s important that we maintain footpaths so that they invite people to walk along them, rather than create desire lines and braiding.

“Each year our path contractors and volunteers carry out works to prevent excessive wear and erosion on the path, which in turn protects sensitive upland habitats. We use hand build techniques with materials sourced in the immediate vicinity. However, sometimes we need to bring in materials, specialist skills and machinery to carry out major repair work.”

^ Skilled repair work helps to provide visual clues to keep walkers on the footpath.

The Steall Gorge path in Glen Nevis was originally designed as a rugged mountain path. In recent years, some of its original features are proving challenging to less experienced hikers, causing them to stray from the main line as they try to avoid them. Not only does this threaten sensitive habitats by ever widening the path but, at particular sections, it puts the walkers themselves in danger if they inadvertently stray too close to the edge of the gorge.

Steph says: "Thanks to everyone who has generously donated to our Steall Gorge Appeal so far, we are planning to repair and define sections of the Steall path using materials that need to be brought in by helicopter. With this larger scale work we will ensure that the path and surrounding area can continue to be accessed safely."

Meanwhile, regular path maintenance continues at Nevis. Our 2026 contractors, A.C.T. Heritage (pictured above) have improved braiding at the far end of the meadows that was damaging peatland; added a water bar to divert water from the path; stabilised the edge of the path in the gorge that was beginning to become undermined; as well as adding visual blocks and clues to help walkers stick to the path.

The Nevis team are also grateful to our wonderful volunteers who help carry out essential maintenance tasks such as clearing out water bars, clearing drains, cutting back vegetation and replacing chicken wire.

This year, the weather was against us on our two Ben Nevis volunteer conservation days. In July high winds meant the planned litter pick team had to relocate to Steall Gorge, where the volunteers helped with essential path repairs. While in October, despite thick cloud cover curtailing our plans to clean up the summit, we were grateful to the volunteers who joined us to clear cross drains that were full of rock further down the Ben.

• Find out more about our work at Nevis.