Developing a Pathway Network

As was highlighted in our buyout feasibility study last year, walking is an activity with many health and other benefits, both for residents and visitors alike…perhaps fortunately for us – in both good and bad weather(!)

While there is a general right to roam here, as long as damage or disturbance is not being caused – difficulties arising from the terrain itself, access through fields and fences, and general underfoot conditions, makes walking around the villages perhaps more arduous than we would like.

This means that we often miss out on the best routes and views that the place can offer, and other historic or interesting places.

Without any designated routes, choice of pathways, age and ability and ‘all year round’ options, we are primarily left with only the main road into the villages – not ideal from a safety point of view, or for generating ongoing interest or supporting the formation of good and interesting habits.

We would therefore like to investigate the development of a paths network – both on the Keose Glebe estate itself, and linked to and around the village of Keose.

A number of (unsurfaced) historic paths and rights of ways exist, although these have fallen out of general use in recent years, and there are also a number of moor roads and tracks that could possibly link together and form part of this network (see below)

Landowner, Grazings and individual crofter permissions would have to be sought here as appropriate, and the necessary gates, fences etc erected and installed…but it could all be done in a way that would be of benefit to all.

Again, your thoughts, comments and ideas here would be welcome.

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Moor Road Improvement

Upgrade and improvement works to the moor access track have now begun. The work is being carried out by AMK.

This will hopefully allow greater use of the land for crofting, development and other social and recreational activities.

We also hope to develop turning and parking areas to encourage this use, and to make vehicular access easier.

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‘Safe Use of Pesticide’ and Sheep Sheering Training

The Muaitheabhal Trust are organising a Safe Use of Pesticide course (PA1) and associated supporting courses in using Hand Held Applicator (PA2) and Ground Crop Sprayer (PA6) and a Sheep Shearing course.

We are keen to assist anyone who wants to take part in these courses in any way we can, and to hopefully get some Keose Glebe people onto the courses ourselves.

The Muaitheabhal information is as follows:

Continue reading “‘Safe Use of Pesticide’ and Sheep Sheering Training”

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Village Tidy-Up 2

A Skip provided by CnES will be in the village this week, and Calum Dan will be on duty on Saturday to assist anyone with getting disposed material safely loaded, and also to advise on what can and can’t be put in.

There will also be help available for anyone who needs help in getting stuff transported.

Just get in touch.

 

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Village Tidyup

In relation to the above, we would very much like to order a warm sunny day!

While that is sadly outwith our control, we would still like the village to look its
best, especially if we have guests and dignitaries attending.

Going forward, as we head into summer, it is more likely we will have curious visitors coming to see somewhere that has been more in the press and news than is usual of late.

That leaves us with just over five weeks to do what we can before the end of May, so we have arranged an initial tidy up exercise for this Saturday, the 23rd of April.

This will give us an opportunity to assess what needs to be done; to get to grips with the roadsides; strim and cut grass where appropriate; and to tackle anything else that is within our abilities and gift to complete. Again, any ideas are welcome.

While we intend to start operations at 10am, we would be grateful for any assistance or input from villagers during the day, so we would hope to see as many people there as possible.

All weather permitting of course, and as a special reward, there will be tea and cake served afterwards.

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