19 Sep Shona Irvine, OATS’ Activity Projects Manager, talks mountain path maintenance and maintenance volunteering

Shona Irvine, OATS’ Activity Projects Manager who runs OATS’ annual volunteering programme, took freelance journalist Richard Baynes under her wing on a recent path maintenance volunteer day in the Cairngorms National Park. She was chatting about all things path building, mountain path maintenance and path volunteering for Richard’s outdoors podcast, Windswept and Interesting – Tales from amazing outdoor places.

Richard describes Episode 7 – Hitting the trail:
We all use footpaths but do we think for a moment about who builds and maintains them? In this episode we talk to footpaths ace and outdoorswoman Shona Irvine, who organises volunteering and more for mountain paths charity the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland.

We’re finding out about:
How paths get worn and battered. What you can do to help put things right. Sandwich fillings, pink trousers and the patriarchy! Warning: Shona is one of the brightest and keenest people working in the outdoors, and just listening to her will make you want to get out and devote your time to fixing paths!

Shona did a fantastic job, giving an interesting insight into path maintenance and volunteering. She was knowledgeable, enthusiastic and very inspiring.  Please listen here on:
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/4fLfJHU8QJO4Mn6zRhq2Kn

Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/07-hitting-the-trail/id1689941972?i=1000626959092

For more information on path maintenance volunteering and to sign up to help save our mountain paths go to /volunteer/