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Remember Scotland? By Adrian Snowball From BFMC Journal 4, 1992 I remember Scotland. All those things that made it so special. Wild country reached on single-track roads. Communities that showed both sides of the people: good and bad. The character and independence of those who lived there and the abuse and neglect of those who didn’t. The land too displayed its history: the effects of man and nature. Somehow it all came together as slightly ragged, slightly imperfect, but unique. I remember the excitement of getting to know my way about Scotland; mainly by myself, just out and about with a map and a few books to guide me. All those hills! And the coastline and islands as well. Ah, but that was then. Now it’s all different. I suppose that having cars that could travel at 70 mph meant that the dual carriageways had to come. At least the new roads allowed those locals who couldn’t afford a house to get out quick. Those who stayed behind were able to make a living at MacBurgers and the other tourist service stations dotted around the land: Glen Torridon Leisure Complex and the Sutherland Theme Park to name but two. The booming sports industry based on the hills (motto: Pack the punters in, there’s room for all) played a part here too. This in turn was fed by the seemingly never-ending flow of glossy books and alluring magazine articles. The stance of local councils still staggers me. Not content with prettifying crofts to satisfy the whims of tourists and feed the Hollywood Highland Story, they seemed to collude with other business interests for the sake of making money. They weren’t to know the long-term effects of all that fish farming and forestry, were they? Despite all the environmental waffle from the government they still haven’t sorted out the mess they left. Joe Public played his part in this drama. Why worry? It can’t happen here. Anyway, take what you can while you can. As long as I can get my skiing, hill-walking etc, it’s not my concern. Is this the future for Scotland? I hope my skills are clairvoyance aren’t that good. I do believe though that all the issues I referred to do pose a real threat. An expanding leisure market shows in more people on the hill, and eroded paths. New roads mean more cars. Who knows what else will happen? How do we protect the future of the Scottish scene? I don’t know for sure, but I would guess it will mean not only doing more and paying more, but also changing our attitudes towards how we use the hills. Perhaps the start would be an acceptance that we are all part of the problem: the cause and maybe the solution. What do you think? |
