The Spring-Summer 2015 | No. 15 Voice The magazine of the Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs The Tom Weir Statue and Centenary Celebrations ALSO INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Tributes, Nature Watch, Two Lochs Tour, Events, Park News and more Enjoy a trip to the stunning village of Luss, situated on the banks of Loch Lomond, only 30 minutes from Glasgow. Check out our funky wellies and a whole lot more at Luss General Store. Then call in and taste our delicious EAT, SLEEP, SHOP menu, and why not stay over in one of our magnificently appointed rooms at the Loch Lomond Arms Hotel? lochlomondarmshotel.com INVERBEG HOLIDAY PARK 5 STAR HOLIDAY PARK ON THE SHORES OF LOCH LOMOND Book your adventure now at inverbeg.com 2 The Voice - Spring-Summer 2015 IHP_The Voice_1803.indd 1 18/03/2015 11:11 Chairman’s Introduction WELCOME TO THIS SPRING EDITION OF VOICE which features interesting articles on the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park and news on recent activities of the Friends and others working to make the Park a better place for people and nature. This edition is tinged with some We have also been busy, with the camping byelaws, linked with ambitious sadness as we reflect on the enormous help of the National Park Authority, proposals to invest £10 million in new contribution of three stalwarts of the clearing more swathes of trees and camping and upgraded car park facilities. Friends who passed away late last shrubs alongside the A82 to open up This followed the success of a pilot year and in February this year-founder more views of Loch Lomond for visitors scheme on East Loch Lomond where and President Dr Hannah Stirling MBE to enjoy. We have removed lengthy there has been a marked improvement and long standing Council members stretches of the Loch Lomond ‘tree in the quality of the visitor experience. Frank Bracewell MBE and Jock Scott- tunnel’ between Balloch and Tarbet over The new proposals have proved to be Park. Special tributes to them appear the past 3 years and we earnestly hope controversial and some of the key points in this edition of Voice. They were all that Transport Scotland will now deal in the Friends generally supportive tireless campaigners for the area and with the management of this important submission are highlighted on page 6. played major roles in ensuring the tourist route on a more comprehensive While the 350 consultation responses Friends became a strong independent basis, including tackling ongoing issues are being considered, the National Park charity making a real difference of tree and shrub removal and repairs to have pressed on with much needed through campaigning, fundraising and the poorly maintained stone walling that investment in car park improvements volunteering activities. runs parallel to the loch and the A82 for beside Loch Venachar as part of the Five It has been a busy winter period in the many miles. Lochs Initiative. National Park with the highlight being Poor litter management continues to Please enjoy reading this edition of Voice the very successful celebrations on 29th be a feature of this busy tourist route and make the most of Scotland’s first December to mark the centenary of which is exacerbated by the lack of litter National Park. It is a truly special place countryside legend Tom Weir MBE with bins in laybys. This is in marked contrast as a riot of spring colour bursts into life the unveiling of a lifelike bronze statue at to the busy A9 as it meanders through before what will hopefully many long Balmaha Bay. This event was attended the Cairngorms National Park where all and balmy summer days. Come along by a bumper crowd with special tributes laybys have large litter bins backed up by to some of our special events such as from well-known outdoor writers and Weirfest in Balmaha on 30th May and our regular road verge litter picks. Securing broadcasters Cameron McNeish and unique Two Lochs Tour in historic buses improvements to the litter situation is an Jimmie Macgregor and Scottish minstrel and boats on 9th October (see page 26). issue we are continuing to campaign on Alistair McDonald. Special guest of with the help of local MSP Jackie Baillie. Thank you for continuing to support the honour at the event was Tom’s widow, work of the Friends and if you are not The Park Authority launched the ‘Your 95 year old Rhona who was thrilled by already a member please do consider Park’ consultation document late last year the likeness of the statue Tom complete joining by completing and returning the which contained far reaching proposals with his signature woolly toorie hat. A form on page 29. truly memorable occasion that generated to tackle the problems of irresponsible All the very best. massive national publicity and has camping on busier lochshores in the resulted in a steady flow of visitors to the National Park. Recommendations JAMES FRASER site to pay homage to ‘Scotland’s most included the introduction of extended Chair - Friends of Loch Lomond popular mountain man.’ and new management zones and no and The Trossachs The Voice is the magazine of the Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs, the only independent conservation charity working to protect, promote and provide projects and services for this most precious part of Scotland – The Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. To join us or to find out more about our work please visit www.lochlomondtrossachs.org.uk Articles published in The Voice do not necessarily or use the form inside. The Voice represent the views of The Friends of Loch Lomond is published biannually in spring and autumn. Submissions on topics relating and The Trossachs. Charity No. SC015389 to Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park are welcome. Please send submissions to the editor at the address below or email [email protected] The Voice is printed on 100% recycled paper supporting Friends of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs The Old Station, Balloch Alexandria G83 8SS the re-use of forest resources and in accordance with Telephone: 01389 298008 Email: [email protected] FSC standards only using post-consumer recycled wood www.lochlomondtrossachs.org.uk and fibre Cover photos –The Tom Weir Statue and Centenary Celebrations. Some beautiful Designed and printed by The Inglewood Press Ltd, Alloa, Scotland photographs of the National Park are available to purchase as framed or canvas www.inglewood-press.co.uk wrap pictures from our online shop at www.lochlomond-trossachs.org.uk www.lochlomondtrossachs.org.uk 3 Tom Weir Centenary Celebrations Tom Weir’s legacy as Scotland’s most loved mountain man lives on, courtesy of the stunning lifesize statue which was unveiled at Balmaha Bay in a blaze of publicity on the centenary of the climber, naturalist and broadcaster’s birth – Monday 29th December 2014. His widow, Rhona, was one of those who took part in the unveiling ceremony, along with outdoor writers and broadcasters Cameron McNeish and Jimmie MacGregor. Over 500 people from all over Scotland were present on the day, and already figures suggest that the statue is set to be one of the most photographed in Scotland. Record Numbers in and we are grateful to the hundreds of knitters who donated thousands of And since that day, visitors have flocked Tom’s signature red and white toorie hats, to Balmaha in record numbers to see the which has been a great fundraiser and statue, which with the changing moods other members of the public who have of the Balmaha Bay backdrop is already a generously donated funds. big favourite with photographers in 2015. “We are also grateful to other funding Plans are now in place with the Tom Weir partners including the National Park Memorial Group to raise a further £30,000 Authority, Stirling Council, DC Thompson, towards upgrading the adjacent picnic STV, The Friends of Loch Lomond and The statue is the culmination of years area, which will include the installation of The Trossachs and a number of clothing of hard work by the Tom Weir Memorial storyboards and seats and the production companies, without whose help it would Group, while the delivery of the project of educational materials. not have been possible to fund and deliver was co-ordinated by the Friends of Loch Rhona Weir said: “The level of detail the statue and associated works in memory Lomond and The Trossachs. Sculptor Sean and likeness to Tom is amazing and I am of Tom.” Hedges-Quinn, who has created statues of pleased the statue has been sited at one of many famous personalities, was the man Tom’s favourite spots on Loch Lomondside responsible for skilfully creating the lifelike which inspired so much of his writings and statue of Tom. Meanwhile, site contractors broadcasts on Scotland’s great outdoors. Alexander Fraser Electrical Services Ltd and ‘’I earnestly hope Tom’s statue and the Lomond Grass of Balmaha worked a minor associated picnic area and viewpoint will miracle in a tight three week period to be a source of much pleasure to those who ensure the statue was installed and the site visit Scotland’s first National Park over the was ready for the unveiling. coming years. Tom’s iconic toorie hat was in plenty At the launch event Rhona also came out evidence at the ceremony, with many with the humorous comments: spectators raising their own versions of the “We had a good marriage – he was never Cameron McNeish also paid tribute at the famous headgear to mark his centenary in’’.