Join the National Trust for Scotland in fixing a popular trail on Mar Lodge Estate, Britain’s largest National Nature Reserve. By supporting us, you’ll help repair one of the footpaths in our care, the East Quoich Path, ensuring visitors can continue to experience the breathtaking beauty of the Cairngorms.

Double Your Donation This Giving Tuesday!

Every pound you give will be matched by a generous donor, up to a combined total of £6,000 – thus doubling the impact of your support. Don’t miss this opportunity to make your contribution go further!

🌄 The Challenge:

Scotland’s increasingly severe weather is taking its toll on footpaths across the highlands, withthe East Quoich Path on Mar Lodge Estate particularly affected. The original route, which closely followed the heather banks of the river, was badly damaged by two floods in 2014 and 2015 and is now highly susceptible to further erosion by high water events. Without intervention, this route will remain unfit for purpose and will disappear.

The East Quoich Path on Mar Lodge Estate has long been part of a popular walking loop on which visitors can head out on one side of the stunning glen and return down the other. Setting out from the recently restored Picnic Lodge, a favourite stopping point of Queen Victoria’s in her day, the route explores the regenerating Caledonian pine woods and the beautiful Quoich water.

Every high-water event we now see in the Quoich – which are becoming more frequent due to the impact of the changing climate – results in more of the riverbank (and therefore the path) being washed away, to the point that much of the right side of the loop is now impassable. It's natural that the river will change its course over time, but it does mean that the old path cannot be future proofed so a new solution must be found.

The route continues to attract visitors because it features in numerous guidebooks and walking websites. It’s therefore common that due to the state of the original path, walkers are now unable to complete the loop as planned. They need to divert to a longer route, or as many do, they set out off-path. This has led to a criss-cross of informal paths through the heather.

Images showing where sections of the path have been washed away

🚁 The Solution:

Guided by the informal trails that have established over the last ten years, we will realign the East Quoich path to take it away from the river’s edge and restore this popular circuit. Much of the new route has already been established and is walkable, however it will need a lot of work over the next few years to make it fit for the long term.

Our initial priority, and this first phase of work, is a few key steep sections which are particularly susceptible to erosion by walking boots. These require stone pitching (stones dug into the ground with their flattest sides facing up to create irregular steps that blend into the landscape), benching or revetment work (a method in which the sides of the trench are formed in steps in order to prevent them from collapsing) to stabilise the path.

Restoring the East Quoich Path would give visitors a fantastic introduction to the regenerating woodland and dynamic river systems at Mar Lodge Estate and would future-proof the path from high rainfall events.

Much of the required work involves repositioning material that is already there. However, additional stone is still necessary, as there’s insufficient material to redistribute without risking exposing the ground to further erosion and removing valuable shelter for flora and fauna, as well as equipment. The team will therefore need to fly materials from another part of Mar Lodge Estate via airlift. Each helicopter bag – all filled by hand! -- contains up to 800kg of stone. For this work, over 7,500kg of stone needs to be flown in!

With over 76,000 hectares of countryside and 275 miles of mountain paths under our stewardship, our dedicated Footpath Team sometimes needs to appoint external support for bigger projects. To get this critical work started, we’ve enlisted the expertise of external contractors, ACT Heritage, to undertake the initial efforts. Once ACT have completed their work, Mar Lodge Estate staff and our Footpath Team will step in to maintain and protect the results of their efforts, ensuring the restored paths remain sustainable for years to come.

💪 Your Support Matters:

We need your help to achieve this. The Cairngorms National Park Authority has generously agreed to fund 70% of the project’s costs. £6,000 will help us complete the final piece of the restoration before Christmas. Our Footpath Team relies solely on donations to continue their incredible work. With your help, we can secure the funds needed to protect one of Scotland’s most awe-inspiring mountains. Your contribution, no matter the size, will make a significant impact. Join us in preserving these vital paths today!

£5 can cover one helicopter bag for transporting materials.

£30 can fund labour to fill one helicopter bag.

£50 can help maintain 1.2m of footpath, clear ditches, or restore trampled ground.

£75 can aid in airlifting essential materials.

£100 can pay for bagging all required materials.

A generous member of our Founders’ Circle has pledged to match every donation up to £3,000. This means your contribution will be doubled, making an even greater impact on restoring these essential paths. Our donor has supported the Footpath Fund work for several years, including a separate project at Mar Lodge Estate. Will you help us raise the whole £6,000 needed today?

❓ Did you know...

Quoich comes from the Gaelic for cup. Its named after a rock formation in the glen called the punchbowl, and as the name suggests, is a bowl-like dip in the land that water can flow through. The Earl of Mar used to begin his hunts here and toast the day by pouring honey and whisky into the punchbowl!

🤝 Who We Are:

The National Trust for Scotland, established in 1931, is dedicated to preserving Scotland’s natural, built, and cultural heritage. From wild coastlines to historic castles, we protect what makes Scotland unique for future generations. Our mission relies on public donations, enabling us to maintain iconic sites like Mar Lodge Estate.

🥾 About Our Footpath Team:

Led by Upland Paths Manager Bob Brown, our Footpath Team cares for over 245 miles (over 400km) of upland paths. Facing harsh weather conditions and high foot traffic, they work tirelessly to prevent erosion, protect ecosystems, and keep paths safe. Their work is only possible with the generous support of donors like you.

🌟 Join Us:

Your help is crucial. Every pound helps the Footpath Team maintain Scotland’s wild paths, so future generations can enjoy them as much as we do today. If we surpass our target, additional funds will go toward further repairs and conservation work in the area.

Donate today and take a step toward preserving the beauty of Mar Lodge Estate for everyone who follows in your footsteps.

This project has been made possible thanks to generous funding from the Cairngorms National Park Authority.