A MASSIVE sky walkway at a historic path in Scotland’s capital has been proposed in order to deal with falling rocks in the area.
The structure is among the options set out under plans to reopen the Radical Road at Holyrood Park.
A Historic Environment Scotland (HES) report lists other options for the path's future, such as installing an avalanche-style shelter, wire mesh and even permanent closure.
Reopening the path at users’ own risk is also being considered. All options are expected to cost around £2.5 million.
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Radical Road, which runs along Salisbury Crags at Arthur’s Seat, has been closed since 2018 after 50 tonnes of rock fell onto the path from the cliffs.
The park’s managers pointed to the sky walkway at Jasper National Park in Alberta in the Canadian Rockies as they considered its future.
HES managers said no final decision has been reached on the proposals but the idea of a sky walkway has been criticised.
James Garry, assistant director of Edinburgh heritage watchdog Cockburn Association, said the structure would be an “excessive and inappropriate intervention”.
He told BBC Scotland: “Other more sustainable and more sensitive options may be possible.
"It would be interesting to hear from the managers of similar sites worldwide who have successfully tackled the same sort of issues.
"HES needs to raise its game to deliver what Scotland's capital deserves."
There is concern over the option to close the historic trail with groups such as Ramblers Scotland calling on HES to commit to reopening the path.
Topher Dagg, a climbing guidebook writer told BBC Scotland the closure of the area would be "a dangerous and depressing precedent".
He said Salisbury Crags were "practically the birthplace of modern Scottish rock climbing" and recently the area had become a "popular and accessible urban training venue".
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An Historic Environment Scotland spokesperson said the risk of rockfall could "potentially cause death or severe injury" on a section of the Radical Road.
They said: "We continue to consult external specialists and partners on what is the most appropriate option to best remedy this situation.
"This includes a number of options including the permanent closure of the path to the general public and scoping the feasibility of intervention methods.
"We will be undertaking further technical assessments before coming to a decision. However, no final decision has been taken yet."
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