3 January 2024
Glasgow Travel Company Donates £16.5k to West Highland Way for Path Restoration
Glasgow-based travel company Macs Adventure, an industry leader in self-guided walking and cycling holidays, donates £16.5k for path restoration of the iconic West Highland Way.
Over 45,000 people complete the West Highland Way each year and, of those, Macs sent over 3,200 adventurers on the trail in 2023. With impressive Munro views and rich historical significance, there is no question as to why the trail is so popular amongst tourists and locals alike.
The consistent trail usage contributes to path degradation and regular maintenance is required to combat this. Macs teamed up with the West Highland Way Management Group and pledged to donate £5 for every customer who travels along the route in 2023 and beyond.
Neil Lapping, CEO and founder of Macs Adventure said:
“We’re thrilled to be supporting The West Highland Way – one of our most popular routes since we started Macs 20 years ago. The path gives thousands of walkers every year such enjoyment, incredible stories, and memories for a lifetime.
Maintaining the path for future generations is crucial, involving not only safety measures but also the vital preservation of the national trail’s ecosystems. For every Macs Adventurer who walks the route, we’re donating £5 to help with the necessary maintenance work and will continue to do so in 2024.”
Sue Hilder, Chair of the West Highland Way Management Group said:
“We really welcome the support received from Macs and look forward to building the relationship further. The West Highland Way is Scotland’s best-loved long distance route but its popularity also brings challenges in keeping the trail well-maintained. The donation will go towards much-needed path maintenance projects and their hands-on volunteering work has made a visible difference already.”
Starting in Milngavie, The West Highland Way is 96 miles long and typically takes 6 to 8 days to complete with a triumphant finish near the foot of Ben Nevis in Fort William. Macs Adventure is the largest tour operator of the route, offering over 11 different itineraries.
The contribution will aid essential upkeep, including the restoration of bridges, installation of new way markers, and enhancements to drainage systems. The team also spent volunteer days, getting actively involved in the maintenance work.
The partnership is one of many initiatives Macs Adventure is taking to advocate a more sustainable and responsible way of travelling. Macs sustainable travel strategy focuses on four key areas to advocate for “low impact, self-guided travel”. These include supporting local communities, measuring and reducing carbon output, trail maintenance and the company’s mission to become B Corp certified.
Macs Adventure also donated £5000 to the South West Coast Path Association in 2023. Macs Adventure will continue its partnership with the West Highland Way and other path maintenance initiatives in 2024.
-ENDS –
NEW INITIATIVE FROM MACS ADVENTURE – GIVING BACK TO HELP MAINTAIN & RESTORE OUR PATHS
Leading self-guided adventure specialist operator Macs Adventure has announced a new initiative working with organisations on two of their most popular walking routes, The West Highland Way and the South West Coast Path. Recognising the rising costs to maintain these paths and to help ensure their future sustainability, Macs Adventure will donate £5 for every customer who travels along these routes in 2023.
Commenting Macs Adventure founder Neil Lapping said, “As we celebrate our 20th year, we’re really proud to be collaborating with the West Highland Way and South West Coast Path Association to support restoration of their pathways. We appreciate the joy that these routes give to thousands of walkers every year and that maintaining these paths is crucial to keep them for future generations. For every Macs Adventure customer who travels on these paths, we’ll be donating £5 to help the West Highland Way Management Group support and maintain the West Highland Way and the South West Coast Path Association with the upkeep of the South West Coast Path.”
In Scotland, The West Highland Way is now established as the most popular long-distance walk and Macs Adventure is the largest operator on the route, with exceptional knowledge of its paths, people and places. This donation of £5 per customer will help to support and maintain the 96 miles of path along the West Highland Way as well as the bridges, gates, signage and drainage to help protect its condition which is regularly hampered by the Scottish weather and the increasing number of severe weather events.
Sue Hilder, Chair of the West Highland Way Management Group said, “The West Highland Way is Scotland’s best-loved long distance route but there are challenges in keeping such a popular route maintained, including increased costs of materials and the need for specialist labour skills. We are grateful for this additional support which will help ensure the route can be enjoyed by walkers for years to come.”
May 2023
