Almost two kilometres of old and little-used snow fencing has been dismantled and air-lifted away from the northern slopes of the Cairngorm mountains, removing a visual intrusion into a wild and scenic area.

The fencing was erected in the 1980's on the ridge between the ski-area in Coire Cas and Coire an t-Sneachda to capture snow and allow skiers easier access into the area. Unfortunately it was not particularly successful at trapping enough snow in such a wind-swept location, and was becoming dilapidated by the fierce weather conditions.

Now, with assistance from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), who own the Cairngorm Estate including the ski-area and the Northern Corries, the fences have been taken down and flown out by helicopter. Taking the fences down needed planning permission from The Highland Council, and the removal techniques, including the helicopter air-lift, also required approval from Scottish Natural Heritage. A total of 1.8 kilometres of fencing has been removed.

The effect on Coire an t-Sneachda is to return it to as near a natural landscape as practical at present, although it will take some time for the vegetation on the ridge to recover.

Although the fences turned out to be of little use to skiers, they had become a convenient navigational aid for walkers and climbers, who used them as a 'guide' between the ski area car park and Coire an t-Sneachda, especially in bad weather. During the summer months this traffic contributed to further erosion of the ground on this ridge.

The removal of the fencing may be disorienting and confusing to some climbers and walkers when trying to access the upper part of Coire an t-Sneachda, or return from there to Coire Cas and it is important that as many as possible are told that the fencing has been removed. Notices outlining the work and the change to the 'landscape' were posted at the ski area car park, and will remain up during the winter mountaineering season. Climbers and walkers are being advised to use the much improved path leading from the car park into Coire an t-Sneachda, rather than thread their way through the ski area, where they are more likely to encounter deep snow and ski operations across their route.

Nic Bullivant, of the Cairngorm Ranger Service said: "The removal work was done in the most environmentally friendly way possible, and although it will take a while for vegetation to recover along the old fencing lines the visual effect is already noticeable. Coire an t-Sneachda no longer has any intrusions from the ski area and appears to be a more wild and undisturbed place."

The work was carried out by staff of CairnGorm Mountain Limited and Kensington Helicopters.