UKC

I've been told that some people were seen at the weekend constructing a memorial cairn using cement and incorporating a plaque, by the Bealach a' Mhaim between the Cobbler and Beinn Narnain near Arrochar. It's apparently clearly visible on the walk from the Narnain Boulders up to the bealach.

The MCofS has clear guidance on this topic - "While we sympathise with the grief and loss that bereaved friends and relatives feel, we believe that permanent artefacts should not be a feature of the mountain landscape."
http://www.mcofs.org.uk/memorials.asp

I doubt the cairn builders obtained permission from the landowner (Scottish Forestry Commision) before making this permanent artificial structure.

There are a number of memorial plaques, none less than 15 years old, discreetly located in several places on The Cobbler, but I've never before seen a such cairn.

I've every sympathy for the friends and family of the deceased, but find it hard to believe that someone who loved the mountains would want to see such intrusions into the landscape, no matter how well intentioned.

Should the cairn remain?

In reply to jfmchivall: No.

In reply to jfmchivall:

No.

jcm

In reply to johncoxmysteriously:

Great. Who's up for dismantling it then? Would the best policy be to get up there with a lump hammer asap, or leave a note at the cairn for a couple of weeks beforehand to give the family a chance to do the job themselves (or at least know why it's disappeared)?

In reply to jfmchivall:

I would say actively trying to contact the family involved beforehand in order to explain the situation and asking them to remove it themselves would be the best course of action. Bear in mind that you are possibly dealing with bereaved relatives and in all likelyhood get their backs up unnecessarily if you just smash it to pieces. Which could lead to accusations of insesitivty etc in the press.

In reply to jfmchivall: should be taken down ,but by whom ? and maybe lose a few cairns as well..

In reply to SFM:

Don't worry, I wasn't seriously proposing to go up their and knock it to pieces without at least doing some groundwork first. I'm not an entirely heartless bastard.

I really carry a lump hammer up the Cobbler to deal with people who shit right behind the Narnain boulders, and leave their empty cans strewn everywhere.

In reply to victorclimber:

Surprisingly, for such a popular mountains, there are very few cairns on the Cobbler. There's not even really one at the summit. The biggest offender I can think of is at the bealach between the N and central peaks, at the top of the steps. I have seen "memorial pebbles" in that cairn on a couple of occasions.

In reply to jfmchivall:
How about contacting the local Forestry Comission office? They may not even be aware of it. In an ideal world the land owner would contact the relatives to explain the situation.

In reply to jfmchivall:

Absolutely not.

In reply to Snoweider:

Good idea, thanks Lucy. I'll wander up there soon to take a look at it myself first.

In reply to jfmchivall:

I didn't really think you were but there are a fair few dafties/impressionable folk on here who knock it down without a second thought.

Personally I find a claw hammer offers more menace to Tennants filled, squatting dumpers ;O)

In reply to jfmchivall: you should get in touch with the National Park http://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/looking-after/contact-us/menu-id-471.ht... They will have an interest in this and may well send a ranger out to deal with it. Last year someone built a memorial cairn in Gunnerside Gill (from masonry from the archaeologically protected mine ruins) complete with a wooden sword and message asking people to add another stone. It wasn't there for long, dealt with no doubt by the YDNP rangers.

In reply to SFM:
I seem to recall a poster on here a few years back who was quite chuffed with himself for doing similar.

In reply to jfmchivall:

Approaching Forestry Commission or indeed MCofS to do so would be the best way to go, but as I have been directed to this post by a third party anyway, I contacted FCS who did not know about it. They are going to investigate, but have the same sort of policy as MCofS and they have no knowledge of anyone giving permission. It may take some time to sort out as the usual approach is to try to contact the relative to discuss rather than just remove it without an effort to track down the instigators which would likely further upset a grieving family.