THE Highland Council has unveiled plans to rehire 18 rangers to patrol the NC500 and wider region following the scrapping of the service last year.
On Thursday next week, councillors will meet to discuss the local authorities' finance plan for 2025/2026, which includes a list of proposed investments for the area.
One of the proposed plans by the council for future investment includes reinstating full-time seasonal rangers.
Last March it was announced by the local authority that the 17-strong seasonal access ranger team, which was set up three years ago to combat litter, human waste and fires along the NC500, would be axed.
At the time the Highland Council said the ranger service had been funded by NatureScot’s Better Places Fund but that “there is currently no external funding available to continue the service”.
However, in the financial proposal for this year the council set out their aim to invest £655,000 into hiring 18 full-time rangers to patrol the area.
The proposal stated the rangers would “ensure that there are access rangers in place across the Highland area in order to promote and encourage positive visitor behaviour and protect the wider environment”.
It added: “Learning has suggested that the presence of access rangers within local communities has helped protect the environment and encourage responsible visitor behaviour which has a positive impact on local communities.”
Additionally, as part of the investment in seasonal access rangers, some funding will be made available to “strengthen the resources” available for the maintenance and management of rural routes.
This included the Great Glen Way and West Highland Way. The local authority said improving the path quality on the tourist hot spots would help to increase their reputation.
The proposal added that vacancy posts for the ranger jobs would be advertised and filled as “soon as practical”.
Adding that they would be filled in time for the 2025/26 summer season.
