Freedom of Information Request - SSSI Consents for Events and Commercial Activity
Date: 30 January 2026
Our ref: SIR182945/A5680686
Information Request – SSSI Consents for Events and Commercial Activity
Your Request
‘Please could you provide a list of any recreational events or commercial activities that have applied for SSSI consent for activities at the following SSSI locations between 1st January 2021 and 31st December 2025.
By 'recreational events' we mean activities such as walking challenges, hill/trail running, mountain biking, orienteering, horse riding, triathlon, etc. This is not an exhaustive list of recreational activities you might include. Please also include events organised on a charitable basis.
By 'commercial activity’ we mean activities such as shooting, fishing, and deer stalking, particularly when mechanised transport is integral to the access required for these activities.
The list of SSSI sites is:
• An Teallach SSSI
• Beinn Eighe SSSI
• Ben Chonzie SSSI
• Ben Lomond SSSI
• Ben More - Scarisdale SSSI
• Ben Nevis SSSI
• Ben Vorlich SSSI
• Caenlochan SSSI
• Cairngorms SSSI
• Cairnwell SSSI
• Coulin Pinewoods SSSI
• Eastern Cairngorms SSS
• Garbh Choire SSSI
• Glas Tulaichean SSSI
• Glen Affric NNR
• Glen Affric SSSI
• Glen Barisdale SSSI
• Glen Callater SSSI
• Morven and Mullachdubh SSSI
• Mull Oakwoods SAC
• Northern Corries, Cairngorms SSSI
• Trotternish Ridge SAC’
Our Response
Following a detailed search of the information we hold a list of recreational events or
commercial activities that have applied for SSSI consent for activities (at the relevant SSSI sites) between 1st January 2021 and 31st December 2025 is below.
Table 1 - Consents Applied for at SSSI Sites
| Event | Year |
|---|---|
| Ben Nevis Ultra | 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| The Ben Nevis Hill Race | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| Green Space Dark Skies event | 2022 |
| The Lochaber Athletics Club (LAC) Creag a Chil race | 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| ITERA International Expedition Adventure Race | 2022 |
| Blackwater 100km ultra race | 2022 |
| Cairngorm Reindeer Herd | 2022 |
| Geocaching | 2022 |
| Filming - Old Man of Storr | 2022 |
| Cape Wrath Ultra Race | 2023, 2024, 2025 |
| The Ally Beag Trial | 2023 |
| Mountain Bothy Film Festival | 2023 |
| Filming – Glen Nevis | 2023 |
| Flying Suits trial | 2023 |
| Photoshoot at Quiraing | 2023 |
| The Scottish Six Day Trial | 2024, 2025 |
| Sea to Summit Event | 2024, 2025 |
| Rock collection – Ben Nevis | 2024 |
| Rat race Sea to Summit Ben Nevis | 2024 |
| Filming - The Sphinx, Braeriach | 2024 |
| Trotternish Ridge Race | 2021, 2024 |
| GB Ultras - Skye Trail Ultra | 2024 |
| Salomon Skyline Scotland Jacobite 100 & Steall Marathon Races | 2025 |
| Ben Nevis Hill Races | 2025-2029 |
| The Lochaber Athletics Club (LAC) Riverbank Splodge Race | 2026 |
Please note, we have not taken commercial activity to include land management activities.
How We Handled Your Request
We believe you have asked for environmental information as defined in the Environmental Information (Scotland Regulations 2004 (‘the EIRs’), so we are dealing with your request under those regulations. To be able to use the EIRs, we must apply an exemption under section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (‘FOISA’). The Scottish Information Commissioner’s guidance recommends that public authorities apply this exemption to environmental information and handle request under the EIRs.
If you would like to find out more about the access to information legislation, there is a guidance booklet available on the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website.
Review and Appeal
I hope this information meets your requirements, but if you are dissatisfied with how we have responded to your information request, please write to us within 40 working days explaining your concerns. You can contact us at Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW or email us at [email protected]. We will carry out a review of our response and contact you with our findings within 20 working days.
If you are not satisfied following this, you can make an appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner within 6 months. The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
Yours sincerely
FOI Officer,
NatureScot
