| Our skills and expertise

We have built thousands of metres of pitching with varying styles, stone and difficulty. We have used local stone from the hill, transporting it to site using winches and power barrows. We have used imported stone that we have bagged in quarries or on scree slopes on the hill, using a helicopter to get it to site. We have built formal pitching with every tread being level and riser being equal. And we have built naturalised pitching, blending it into the informal landscape of the hill.

We have built many kilometres of aggregate path, incorporating many different styles and techniques. In most cases we have mined for the material on site by using borrow pits. We have used machines to build raised machine paths, and we have built causeways by hand using stone for building up the edges. We have built timber lined paths through woodland, formal and informal. We have used geotextiles to float the path over extremely boggy areas. We have flown in quarried material and we have used gravel shutes to transport the aggregate to site.

Drainage features are crucial elements of path construction and we take pride in building these stone work elements. Some Cross Drains have been built in burns, whilst others have been chiselled into bedrock amongst Pitching. Cross Drains have been built in extremely boggy areas and have used tonnes of stone for a single drain. Water Bars have been built in the woods amid tree roots and on top of a mountain devoid of vegetation and soil. The result is varying scope of styles and challenges we have been able to deal with.

Revetment has been required to build path edges up on many of our work site locations. The most common is to build large scale revetment on the low side of the path to contain either the aggregate or the pitching. We have done this using winches and large stone. We have built drystone wall types leaning into the angle od response and we have used gabions too.

We have drained all our path with our knowledge of water management and use of ditching. We have protected most of our paths using topside ditches. Ditches have been scalloped, open and turfed. We have used machines and we have dug them by hand.

A large part of path work involves working with stone. Many of the path features are built of stone. In most cases we have to work with a limited supply of stone and we have to be skilful in our methods of construction. We have worked all over Scotland and worked with Granite, Lewisian Gneiss, Torridian Sandstone, Basalt and many others. We have constructed stonework monuments, Stone and cement walls and drystone walls.

We have constructed many kilometres of boardwalk through woodland, over coastlines and over bog and marsh land. We have built undulating boardwalk for all access purposes and stepped boardwalk over steep terrain. We have built benches, stiles, gates, bridges even arched doorways.

We have built a variety of different fences including stock, dear and wooden slatted.

We are currently involved in many areas of chainsaw work and have an extensive set of skills and qualifications. We have a chainsaw contract as part of the national framework for the Forestry Commission Scotland on Arran and in Galloway. This is chainsaw work, involving the felling of trees and the cutting and management of rhododendron. We are qualified for aerial work. We also involve ourselves in planking and artistic chainsaw work.

We are trained and qualified in the use of pesticides. We have City and Guilds PA1 and PA6 tickets. We have used a variety of different chemicals from herbicides to insecticides. Along with the chemical treatment we are also a registered SEPA waste carrier and are able to deal with professionally and effectively. More information about Invasive Species Removal.

For 15 years we have been involved in tree planting. We have planted for agricultural crops and conservation purposes. We have planted pods, treated trees, broadleaves and conifers. We have planted a variety of different soil types and topography. We have restocked clear fell sites and we have beat up recent restocked sites. As a result of tree planting our tree surveying is good, being able to identify most native Scottish species and suitable environmental conditions for each species type.

Where it is appropriate and access permits, we have used excavators on site. We have contracted in machine operators to carry out path work instructed by our ganger. We have used machines to dig borrow pits, whilst we transport the material using our own plant. We have used machines for bagging stone and we have used machines in the wood for the removal of trees and shrubs.

15 years of working on footpaths throughout Scotland has given Scott Murdoch plenty of experience and subsequent knowledge in path work. In his role as training officer for the Arran Coastal Way he was also principal designer. Recently he has begun surveying for Trusts, the Forestry Commission and Councils.