PATHS: Hill paths are a mixture of purpose-made walkers’ trails, traditional stalker’s and shepherd’s paths, sheep and deer trails that have metamorphosed into footpaths and paths that have evolved because walkers have followed each other, usually up and down the quickest, most direct route. Well-located and well-constructed paths can withstand countless pairs of boots, but many paths are neither well designed nor well built and are easily damaged.

The ideal path should be wide enough for one person only, and walkers should go in single file. Walk side by side and you break down the edges of the path, widening the trail, damaging vegetation and creating more erosion and unsightly scars.

Multiple trails – braided trails – through bogs and soft ground mar too many places. Such trails are created by walkers trying to keep their feet dry. The original line of the path slowly sinks under the pressure of boots and, sometimes, mountain bike tyres, and water begins to collect in hollows, forming puddles and muddy sections. To avoid the expanding bogs people walk round the edges, widening the path and allowing the water to spread. Over time the trail becomes a wide and muddy morass with many bypass trails curving out to the sides.

To avoid this think of the path rather than your feet and stick to the main line even if it does mean muddy boots and possibly damp socks. Where the old path is impossible to find in the deep mud try not to spread out to the sides but stay on the already damaged ground. If you really want to keep your feet dry wear gaiters or waterproof socks like SealSkinz rather than tiptoeing round the edge of boggy paths. Alternatively, splash through the first puddle and get your feet wet. After that it doesn’t matter.

Zigzags or switchbacks are often found on traditional stalkers’ paths and paths that have been realigned. Such paths are easier to climb and less likely to erode than paths that take a direct line up the hill. A zigzagging path can be a joy to climb and is much easier on the knees in descent than a steep one. However, too often people choose a direct line and cut the corners of zigzags. This damages the vegetation, which results in the soil breaking down and ruts appearing. This creates a watercourse for rain water and soon becomes a flowing stream.

The destructive qualities of running water are immense, so what begins as an innocent shortcut soon becomes an eroded scar. On some paths it can be hard to follow the original line so many shortcuts have been made. As well as ignoring shortcuts you can block them off with rocks or stones to discourage others from using them so the land has a chance to heal itself.

Path maintenance and construction work is grossly expensive and many agencies simply can’t afford it. In Scotland alone it’s been estimated that bringing all the popular mountain footpaths into good order would cost upwards of £50M. Where path repairs are being carried out it’s only sensible to follow the requests of the work party to prevent further damage being done. And when repairs have been completed stick with the new path so that damaged areas can recover.

New paths can certainly stand out like a sore thumb and may initially look worse than the scars they replace but in time they weather and blend into the hillside, allowing the damaged areas to heal.

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Photo(s) of the Month: Judy Armstrong describes those women's waterproofs designed to keepyou dry all year round - in the October issue of TGO