About The Friends of Ben Rinnes.

The Friends of Ben Rinnes is a registered charity (No SC 034370) which works to care for the paths and environment of Ben Rinnes and to promote responsible enjoyment of the hill by walkers. Its members are all volunteers who share these aims and who wish to support them.

The increasing popularity of the hill with walkers of all abilities has resulted in major erosion and widening of the existing paths, particularly on the upper slopes. Worst affected is the most popular route to the summit leading from the car park at Glack Harnes (NJ 284359) on the Edinvillie to Glen Rinnes road over Roy’s Hill and up the north eastern ridge. The resultant scarring on the summit cone is unsightly, unpleasant under foot and damaging to the fragile environment.

Nothing could have been undertaken without the cooperation of the two main estates, Glen Rinnes and Kinermony. Although members originally did some serious stone construction work, most of the effort by amateur volunteers is in maintaining and reseeding the path and its surrounds. Major works are undertaken by professional contractors. Path work is not cheap and we rely on the support and goodwill of both major and minor sponsors. (see Works on the Ben)

We also monitor the revegetation of reseeded areas and have discreet counters under the path to assess hill usage. We meet three times through the winter.The AGM is always followed by a guest speaker and we have a further two social evenings at which, in the past, we have been enlightened on topics ranging from Greenland mountaineering to local wildlife; mounting an expedition to travels in Mongolia.