I've cross-posted this to u.r.w. as I thought someone there may have had a similar encounter recently.
I came out of the Cairngorms by way of Coire Cas after a few days of fieldwork yesterday to be greeted by a Cairngorm Railway operative with a questionnaire. He wanted to know where I'd been, why I was there and had I used the funicular etc. His last two questions were "Would ever I consider using the funicular?" and "Would I consider using the funicular to gain access to the plateau?". ("No" and "No" since you ask). This last question seemed a bit off as I thought that it was part of their operating terms that they weren't allowed to disgorge litter-strewing, mishap-befalling hordes into the environmental gem that is the plateau. Maybe I'm wrong but it feels to me that we've had the thin end of the wedge thus far with the funicular and now they're trying to drum up a case for more access to increase profits and pay back some of the public money that's been poured into the scheme. Or am I just over-reacting?
In article <[email hidden]>, Duncan Irving <[email hidden]> writes
Quoted message said:
Hi all,
I've cross-posted this to u.r.w. as I thought someone there may have had a similar encounter recently.
I came out of the Cairngorms by way of Coire Cas after a few days of fieldwork yesterday to be greeted by a Cairngorm Railway operative with a questionnaire. He wanted to know where I'd been, why I was there and had I used the funicular etc. His last two questions were "Would ever I consider using the funicular?" and "Would I consider using the funicular to gain access to the plateau?". ("No" and "No" since you ask). This last question seemed a bit off as I thought that it was part of their operating terms that they weren't allowed to disgorge litter-strewing, mishap-befalling hordes into the environmental gem that is the plateau. Maybe I'm wrong but it feels to me that we've had the thin end of the wedge thus far with the funicular and now they're trying to drum up a case for more access to increase profits and pay back some of the public money that's been poured into the scheme. Or am I just over-reacting?
I doubt it. The funicular firm have recently been lobbying hard for a variation on their conditions of operating, specifically to allow access from the top station. This appears to be them gathering the views of other users of the area. The National Park Authority even mentioned it as a possibility back in July, according to a report in The Scotsman.
In article <[email hidden]>, Duncan Irving <[email hidden]> writes
Quoted message said:
Hi all,
I've cross-posted this to u.r.w. as I thought someone there may have had a similar encounter recently.
I came out of the Cairngorms by way of Coire Cas after a few days of fieldwork yesterday to be greeted by a Cairngorm Railway operative with a questionnaire. He wanted to know where I'd been, why I was there and had I used the funicular etc. His last two questions were "Would ever I consider using the funicular?" and "Would I consider using the funicular to gain access to the plateau?". ("No" and "No" since you ask). This last question seemed a bit off as I thought that it was part of their operating terms that they weren't allowed to disgorge litter-strewing, mishap-befalling hordes into the environmental gem that is the plateau. Maybe I'm wrong but it feels to me that we've had the thin end of the wedge thus far with the funicular and now they're trying to drum up a case for more access to increase profits and pay back some of the public money that's been poured into the scheme. Or am I just over-reacting?
I doubt it. The funicular firm have recently been lobbying hard for a variation on their conditions of operating, specifically to allow access from the top station. This appears to be them gathering the views of other users of the area. The National Park Authority even mentioned it as a possibility back in July, according to a report in The Scotsman.
I'll have to go back and take a closer look at the latest issue of the Cairngorm's Campaign newsletter because I seem to recall reading something along the lines that not all of the shareholders/stakeholders in the development of the skiing and/or the land were bound by the access agreement and thus if their was a change in ownership this might present an opportunity to wriggle out of the agreement.
-- o/ \\ // || ,_ o Mike Clark, "An antibody engineer who also <\__,\\ // __o || / /\, likes the mountains" "> || _`\<,_ // \\ \> | Cambridge Climbing and Caving Club ` || (_)/ (_) // \\ \_ <URL:http://www.path.cam.ac.uk/~mrc7/cccc/>
"Nick (Scots)" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
I hear that the cairngorm estate is up for sale... ...could be a connection?...
Quoted message said:
No. What really irritated me was when I biked up from the Loch Morlich campsite to see sign saying
'since you have chosen to get to the funicular via car please donate towards the carbon tax for eco projects'
Was the sign in the *car* park??
Yes, it was. The irony. If that had not built it there would be no rd going there and folk would be biking or walking in.
Nick
LOL! so, they put a carbon tax sign in the middle of the wilderness, then built a car park around it and a road all the way up the hill so people could go there and read the sign?... it a funny old game!
"Nick (Scots)" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
I hear that the cairngorm estate is up for sale... ...could be a connection?...
>No. What really irritated me was when I biked up from the >Loch Morlich campsite to see sign saying > >'since you have chosen to get to the funicular via car please >donate towards the carbon tax for eco projects' >
Was the sign in the *car* park??
Yes, it was. The irony. If that had not built it there would be no rd going there and folk would be biking or walking in.
Nick
LOL! so, they put a carbon tax sign in the middle of the wilderness, then built a car park around it and a road all the way up the hill so people could go there and read the sign?... it a funny old game!
Except of course that it didn't happen in that order - and we're all learning as we go along. In fact one wonders whether the whole Cairngorm development would be somewhat different if starting today - e.g. a rail system starting at Glenmore.
Except of course that it didn't happen in that order - and we're all learning as we go along. In fact one wonders whether the whole Cairngorm development would be somewhat different if starting today - e.g. a rail system starting at Glenmore.
I think you are missing the point. The development is encouraging more travelling etc
Except of course that it didn't happen in that order - and we're all learning as we go along. In fact one wonders whether the whole Cairngorm development would be somewhat different if starting today - e.g. a rail system starting at Glenmore.
I think you are missing the point. The development is encouraging more travelling etc
Nick
Pity you chose to snip the text I was relying to -
"LOL! so, they put a carbon tax sign in the middle of the wilderness, then built a car park around it and a road all the way up the hill so people could go there and read the sign?... it a funny old game!"
Unless you're suggesting that people are actually going there to see the sign itself?
Think of it as a multi-activity day. When you've seen the sign you can have a go on the funicular.
I've always thought the funicular was a strange idea as a tourist attraction. It's just a train carriage going up a short not very interesting bit of hillside. A cable car starting from back down in Glenmore to include the more scenic bits of the gorge lower down would have been more of a draw surely. Or maybe tarmac the Lairig Ghru and have donkey cart rides like the Gap of Dunloe in Ireland.
I've always thought the funicular was a strange idea as a tourist attraction. It's just a train carriage going up a short not very interesting bit of hillside.
The funicular's not bad if you've come back from a multi-day treck in the hills and you want a rest and a change. The equipment's interesting from a technical point of view and you can get a better meal at the new Ptarmigan now than the old. You can also go out on the viewing terrace and listen to the other tourists saying 'what a wonderful view' and say to yourself 'if you've only seen what I've seen!'
I've always thought the funicular was a strange idea as a tourist attraction. It's just a train carriage going up a short not very interesting bit of hillside. A cable car starting from back down in Glenmore to include the more scenic bits of the gorge lower down would have been more of a draw surely.
Only if it's not too windy. Cairngorm does have still days, but it's not exactly noted for them... And most of the point was to replace the very old White Lady chairlift for ski access. All the other tourist stuff was really retro-bolted onto the idea to help people dig into our pockets ;-/
Pete. -- Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/
I've always thought the funicular was a strange idea as a tourist attraction. It's just a train carriage going up a short not very interesting bit of hillside. A cable car starting from back down in Glenmore to include the more scenic bits of the gorge lower down would have been more of a draw surely.
Only if it's not too windy. Cairngorm does have still days, but it's not exactly noted for them... And most of the point was to replace the very old White Lady chairlift for ski access. All the other tourist stuff was really retro-bolted onto the idea to help people dig into our pockets ;-/
Pete. -- Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/
