The Highland Council’s Outdoor Access Team have secured £585,000 of funding over the next three years to help pave the way for a programme of improvements to the core path network across the Highlands.

The new Core Path Improvement Scheme is expected to deliver a minimum of 45 projects over the next 3 years at an average cost per project of £13,000.

Exactly 45% of this new award has come from the Highland LEADER Programme and now Community Councils and other community groups across Highland are being invited to put forward their improvement projects.

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Councillor Isobel McCallum, Vice Chairman of the Planning, Environment and Development Committee said: “I fully support what the Access Team are trying to do. All too often we take paths for granted and yet they contribute to so much of everyday life.

"This is an excellent example of how LEADER funding can be used throughout Highland for community benefit.”

Core Paths were identified after 3 years of extensive consultation with communities, landowners and organisations.

Access Officer Phil Waite said: “We really want communities to tell us which paths should be improved and hopefully even some small changes can make a big difference.”

(GK)