View from Ben Nevis comes at a price

Groups of walkers who wheeze and groan their way up Ben Nevis, the nation's highest mountain, are to be invited to pay for the privilege.

After local concern at the number of extra rangers required to direct competitors at walking and charity events, and the amount of litter they generate, local councillors have decided to ask for donations from larger charity groups who "descend" on Ben Nevis as part of a Three Peaks challenge (the other mountains being Snowdon and Scafell).

According to an internal report by John MacDonald, the Cultural & Leisure Services Manager for the Highland council, the effects of large groups on the local environment and facilities "can often be very serious."

"Managing these groups can involve the council in additional costs due to staff time, additional litter clearing, hire of skips, extra toilet cleaning, etc," he wrote. After a meeting yesterday, however, members of the Lochaber council's Cultural and Leisure Services Committee unanimously agreed not to impose a charge on walkers, for example through the use of turnstiles or pay-booths.

"It is a basic tenet of faith in Highland life that access to the land is free and that is an inalienable principle," said Peter Peacock, the Highland Council Convener. But, according to Councillor and committee chair, Neil Clark, the congestion can get serious: "Believe it or not, we have experience of as many as two thousand people suddenly descending on Glen Nevis, sometimes in the dead of night, and then heading up the Ben."

Even if the council do try to impose or invite payment, however, it will be virtually impossible for them to regulate any levy, as the council does not actually own either Ben Nevis or access to it.