Access Information
Scotgold is developing the Cononish Gold and Silver project at Cononish Farm, and while there is legislative provision to exclude areas, such as construction sites and minerals sites, from ‘access rights’ on the grounds of health and safety, the Company has been careful to put measures in place to minimise disruption to recreational visitors to the area.
Scotgold has made specific provision for access to be maintained around the site, including to Ben Lui, on signed routes between Meall Odhar and Beinn Chuirn, and Cononish Farm, and to the Eas Anie waterfall/ice climb; these suggested routes are shown dashed on the plan below.
In the wider area Scotgold has undertaken some works to improve path drainage and has recently commissioned a new bridge over the Crom Allt at Dalrigh. While primarily to improve mine access, this also enhances local recreational routes within Strathfillan Community Woodland.
Vehicles and Parking
Visitors to the area should be aware of the potential to meet vehicles on the Cononish Farm/Ben Lui access track and for a short section of the West Highland Way as it passes through the Strathfillan Community Woodland.
It is noted that the road to Cononish Farm remains private and public vehicular access, is not permitted. Parking provision is retained at Dalrigh and additional parking is being provided for the mining operation, this being available to the public on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Blasting and Ice Climbing
Warning systems remain in place for any minor surface blasts around the mine portal. Standard signals, including red flags and audible warnings are being employed at the mine, sentries are also posted on the mine site perimeter.
Underground blasting will be routinely undertaken in order to develop and operate the mine. This will have no discernible effect on the majority of recreational users and a monitoring program shall ensure compliance with relevant levels.
Measures have been put in place in recognition of the potential for ice-climbing on the Eas Anie.
Every effort will be made to avoid blasting in the east section of the mine (within 300 m of the waterfall) at these times although, for operational reasons, a full exclusion is not possible.
No blasting will take place in the east section of the mine (within 300 m of the waterfall) unless the climb is clear.
In addition, blasting will not take place in the east section of the mine (within 300 m of the waterfall) after 1900 hours on a Friday, until Monday evening when the climb is clear, thus the ice would be subject to prevailing climatic conditions for a full overnight period before any judgement is made by climbers on the condition of the climb on a Saturday morning.
During the remaining weekday evenings, no blasting would take place in the east section of the mine (within 300 m of the waterfall) after 2200 hours.
In order to inform the mine of climbers’ presence a switch is mounted at the access to the Eas Anie, enabling climbers to signal their intention to climb. Climbers are requested to signal that the climb is in use by ensuring this is switched on.
Please Note:
While all reasonable care has been taken to mitigate any potential effects of blasting on the climb the implementation of these measures does not confer any liability onto the mine operator in respect to ice climbing at Eas Anie. The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 states that those exercising their rights must, inter alia:
Take personal responsibility for their own actions
Help land managers and others work safely and effectively –follow reasonable recommendations.
The Mountaineeering Scotland Participation Statement is also clear in this regard:
Mountaineering Scotland recognises that climbing and mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions and involvement.
Contact
You can contact Scotgold at sgz@scotgoldresources.com
