As Glencoe National Nature Reserve experiences one of its busiest ever years, the National Trust for Scotland’s Ranger team is working hard with visitors and campers to help ensure they don’t damage the natural wonder they have come to enjoy.
With eight famous Munros and the A82 passing through the middle of the estate, Glencoe is inevitably one of Scotland’s busiest National Nature Reserves (NNRs). Around 2 million vehicles drive through each year, and balancing nature conservation with responsible enjoyment and access is at the heart of the National Trust for Scotland’s activities in Glencoe and Glen Etive. Through activities including visitor engagement, litter picks, camper patrols and family tours, the conservation charity strives to make sure that visitors experience the glen’s stunning scenery and wildlife without leaving negative impacts in their wake.
The charity’s latest statistics indicate a growth in visitor numbers compared with 2022, with visitors to the Trust’s Glencoe Visitor Centre rising by around 35%. There has also been an 18% rise in the number of tents and 10% rise in the number of campervans and motorhomes counted during the Trust’s Friday and Saturday evening Ranger patrols through popular areas for camping.
The Trust says that while the vast majority of visitors appreciate the importance of taking care of Glencoe and Scotland’s other special places, the work of its Ranger team is critical in managing rising visitor numbers and minimising their impact. For example, so far this season, Trust staff and volunteers have carried out over 200 hours of litter- picking, collecting more than 200 bags of waste.
“The more time my team can spend on habitat conservation, instead of clearing up after others, the better for this incredible landscape and the people who live and work in it year-round.” says Scott McCombie, Senior Ranger, Glencoe NNR
Another critical element in our mission to protect and share Glencoe National Nature Reserve is the ranger team’s ongoing work to clear up what visitors leave behind. Top of their list of finds is food packaging, disposable BBQs, used tissues, wet wipes and toilet sites.
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Posted On: 01/09/2023