Pay-as-you-go plan for West Highland Way

Published on 28/12/2005 00:06

THE famous West Highland Way could soon become a "pay-as-you-go" route under radical plans to charge walkers £1 a day to use it.

The management group of the popular route, which includes Scottish Natural Heritage and the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority, is reported to be considering the move.

It is understood the scheme would be presented as a voluntary charge, but its introduction would still mark a first as no other long-distance trail in the United Kingdom attracts a charge.

The 95-mile West Highland Way stretches from Milngavie near Glasgow to Fort William and attracts about 50,000 people every year.

The maintenance of the West Highland Way is paid for by the local authorities whose areas it runs through and it is estimated that path repairs and improvements cost about 500,000 a year.

The idea behind the charging proposal is to make the West Highland Way financially viable in its own right. The management group also wants to create a trading arm to raise additional funding through the sale of merchandise such as food, drink and gifts.

However, the Ramblers' Association Scotland expressed concern at the proposal, saying such a scheme could undermine the principles of Scotland's land reform legislation.