John O’Groats Trail: Loth Burn bridge plans backed by mystery donor
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A mystery donor is helping to build bridges in the north of Scotland after pledging thousands of pounds to a Caithness trail group.
The John O’Groats Trail is now seeking match funding from the public to make the most of the contribution, which has come via the BigGive website.
The money is earmarked to go towards a footbridge over the Loth Burn south of Helmsdale which will add an important link along the 147-mile route between Inverness and John O’Groats.
Currently walkers are advised that the stage between Brora and Helmsdale requires fording the three to four metre wide Loth Burn, which involves a detour including a mile of road walking if the river is in spate.
There are plans in place to construct a bridge at a cost of £100,000, and the Association of Northern Trails has been working with Frank McCulloch of Arvikaconsult in Dornoch on designs for the crossing.
Funding of £30,000 is already in place from SSE’s Gordonbush and Kilbraur wind farm benefit funds, with a further £35,000 at the application stage.
The unknown benefactor has pledged to contribute up to £2500 as match funding for anything the public contribute – meaning a total of £5000 could be added to the project’s funding pot.
However, donations must be received by this Wednesday, April 24, at midnight. They can be made here.
By Monday morning almost £2700 of the possible £5000 had been raised – 54 per cent of the target.
The website states: “The Loth Burn presents a difficult obstacle along the John O'Groats Trail. Crossing this burn is challenging, even dangerous, for walkers: when the tide is in or if it is in spate, then the burns is nearly impassable.
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“This can be off-putting for those who may be less mobile or able to jump the burn, or wade through, and means that that the trail, and indeed local communities, are impacted.
“By constructing a bridge at Loth, we are ensuring that walkers are kept safe, and that the trail is a more accessible and more attractive 'slow tourism' proposition for locals and visitors alike: this will increase access to the great outdoors for many more people, and the bridge will benefit whole communities along the northern coast of Scotland.”
Ken McElroy, the trail manager, said the identity of the donor was a complete mystery.
“We don’t know who it is at all. You have to make your project available on the website and submit it, then they find people who are interested in the Highlands or walking or the outdoors. They’ve got a team who look for what they call ‘champions’ to fund projects, and thankfully somebody has donated up to £2500 to us.
“It’s very kind of them to donate to this, because it is such a big project. £5000 from this would be another big step and help to demonstrate backing for the project.”
He added: “The coastline around the north of Scotland is a real asset and we should be able to get bridges and things built. If we can, I believe the trail can be one of the premier attractions in the area.”
Meanwhile, members of the trail group will join Caithness Environment Volunteers on Sunday, April 28, to help remove gorse bushes at Skeps Geo, north of Whaligoe.
