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Giving Back to the Mountains: How Volunteers Are Helping Shape Scotland’s Future
From path maintenance to habitat restoration, Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland empowers communities to protect Scotland’s landscapes while creating environmental, social and economic benefits.
In this blog article Ewan Watson who is the Outdoor Access Project Manager for Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland (OATS) covers off the challenges and milestones in the delivery of a number of access projects managed by OATS and Path Maintenance Volunteers.
Local people and volunteers are central to our work at the OATS. We support the conservation of Scotland’s mountains while improving access for outdoor enthusiasts. Through our volunteering programme, we offer opportunities to take part in Path Maintenance activities or join our Adopt a Path (AAP) Scheme—both focused on maintaining the mountain footpaths we have built or restored over many years.
Through the AAP scheme, we work with volunteers who act as custodians of some of Scotland’s most iconic routes, helping us monitor their condition and target maintenance work effectively. Many people join us because they want to give something back to the landscapes they value, while also gaining personal benefits. By volunteering with us, you can meet like-minded people, build confidence, and develop practical skills in path construction, habitat restoration and conservation. For those considering a career in the environmental sector, this hands-on experience can help open doors to future employment and training opportunities.
As one of our Path Maintenance Volunteers shared:
“I gained a big appreciation of how paths are designed and how they can go wrong if not looked after!”
Since our establishment in 1998, we have delivered a wide range of successful projects, evolving from a small local trust into the national organisation we are today. One of our most notable achievements is The Mountains and The People (TMTP) project—the largest upland path partnership initiative ever undertaken in the UK. Through this project, we built or restored over 120 kilometres of paths and delivered a highly successful training programme, with many SVQ students progressing into employment in land management and conservation. We also helped strengthen public engagement and awareness of the value of volunteering.
More recently, we completed a major footpath repair project on An Teallach as part of our joint ‘It’s Up To Us’ campaign with Mountaineering Scotland. Together, we raised £300,000 through public donations, private support and grant funding. This enabled us to deliver 3.2 kilometres of path improvements alongside landscape restoration work—demonstrating the power of collaboration and strong community backing.
Our work also plays an important role in strengthening local economies. Projects such as the Dorenell Community Path Links initiative in Moray are designed to encourage visitors to stay longer by improving access to well-connected, waymarked paths. By enhancing path networks, we support the growth of “slow tourism,” helping increase spending in local businesses such as cafés, shops and accommodation providers, while making rural areas more attractive places to live and work.
Environmental protection sits at the heart of everything we do. Much of our work takes place in fragile mountain environments, including Sites of Special Scientific Interest. On An Teallach, for example, increased footfall and climate change had caused significant erosion. By constructing robust, carefully designed paths, we reduce damage to sensitive habitats while maintaining sustainable access. Our restoration work—such as blocking informal routes and encouraging vegetation recovery—supports long-term landscape resilience.
We also demonstrate how social, economic and environmental goals can work together. Alongside path projects, we manage car parks and trailhead facilities at key locations such as the Fairy Pools on Skye and Stac Pollaidh. These developments address issues like congestion and environmental damage while creating local employment opportunities, generating income for reinvestment, and improving the visitor experience.
Our growth reflects our ability to adapt and respond to changing needs while maintaining a strong focus on delivering meaningful, high-quality work. Partnership working is fundamental to what we do—we collaborate with national park authorities, local councils, government agencies and outdoor organisations to expand our reach and achieve shared goals.
We are proud to show how community involvement, environmental stewardship and economic development can align to create lasting benefits. Through our work, we are helping to protect Scotland’s landscapes while making them more accessible and sustainable for future generations.
Volunteering with us is a rewarding way to protect the places you love while gaining practical skills and meeting like-minded people. From hands-on path maintenance to adopting a route, you can play a direct role in caring for Scotland’s mountain environments.
Take the first step: find out more and sign up here – https://www.outdooraccesstrustforscotland.org.uk/
