Footpath Fund
Donate todayCelebrating 25 years of the Footpath Fund!
Will you help us raise £250,000 to make sure Scotland’s natural beauty can be cherished for generations to come?
Scotland’s breathtaking outdoors is best explored on foot. Whether it’s family walks through country estates, woodland wanders, Highland hikes or tackling a Munro, our footpaths open the door to adventure for everyone. There’s no better way to connect with Scotland’s nature, history and community!
This year, we’re celebrating a major milestone: 25 years of the Footpath Fund.
Over the past quarter-century, we’ve restored and maintained hundreds of miles of trails, welcomed around 500 volunteers, trained over 50 path workers and, of course, battled millions of midges to protect and enhance Scotland’s world-renowned landscapes.
Why we need your help
More people are exploring Scotland’s outdoors than ever before, and the challenges we face are growing. Footpaths endure wear from thousands of walkers and must withstand Scotland’s unpredictable weather. The climate crisis adds even greater urgency, with flash floods and landslides threatening paths like the Quoich trail at Mar Lodge Estate, which had to be rerouted after a storm.
Thanks to the Footpath Fund, we’ve repaired erosion scars, landscaped fragile areas like Ben Lomond’s summit, and prevented the loss of precious vegetation. These successes show what we can achieve together – but there’s still so much to do.
A vital source of support
The Footpath Fund is a vital source of support for our mountain landscapes. Upland Path Manager Bob Brown explains more in the video below:
Transcript
Hi, I’m Bob Brown, the Upland Path Manager for the National Trust for Scotland.
I’m in Torridon today.
It was stunningly beautiful a minute ago and now we’re back to hail, so normal kind of Highland weather really.
This is what my team encounter on a day-to-day basis.
Work doesn’t stop because of the weather. We might adapt the sites that we’re on but the work has to continue.
My team are out on the hill at the moment maintaining the paths, both to maintain access for you all to enjoy but also to protect this stunning and fragile landscape.
The annual Footpath Fund appeal is vital to pay for this work – it can’t be done without it, so thank you.
Thank you very much again for all your donations.
Will you consider a gift today to help ensure Scotland’s footpaths are protected for the next 25 years and beyond?
Without our efforts, paths can erode, causing walkers to stray and damage delicate ecosystems. This puts Scotland’s native flora and fauna at risk and leaves lasting scars on our landscapes.
As we celebrate this 25th anniversary, we’re asking you to join us in safeguarding Scotland’s footpaths for the next quarter-century.
Please help us raise £250,000 and keep our efforts on track.
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