John Muir Trust hopes to land £24,000 award to support Skye conservation work

The Perthshire-based John Muir Trust has been nominated for a £24,000 award, which will be decided by the public in an online poll over the next two weeks.

The contest has been organised by the European Outdoor Conservation Association a not-for-profit environmental outdoor charity.

If successful the cash will be used for a path restoration project on the spectacular Bla Bheinn, a Skye mountain owned and managed by the trust.

It guards the entrance to the Black Cuillin range and stands in rugged wild land ringed by coastal villages, sea lochs and woodland.

The Bla Bheinn path project has been nominated in the Alpine category by outdoor retailer Berghaus.

John Muir Trust footpath manager Chris Goodman said: “The breath-taking view from the summit and the relatively straightforward access attracts thousands of people to Bla Bheinn each year.

“The pressure of footfall combined with the high rainfall here has created serious erosion on sections of the footpath, damaging fragile soil and plants.”