A £3m (US$5m, €3.78m) grant given to two of Scotland’s national parks will be used in-part to help train young people for a future working to preserve the country’s outdoor attractions.

The funding, which will mainly be used to restore eroded pathways in the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, has been granted by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and will restore 41 paths identified as being of risk due to a combination of rainfall and heavy use.

The Mountains for People project was launched by the Trust in April 2009 to conserve and repair some of the most challenging upland routes in the Torridon, Glencoe and Arran areas of Scotland.

The project offers a range of training options, based around learning, as well as improving practical conservation skills in an outdoor environment. Part of the funding will be used to train young people with the skills to gain employment in working with schools and volunteers to help preserve Scotland’s great outdoors.

“Nature lies at the very heart of what makes Scotland special and its beauty attracts and ever-growing number of walkers, climbers and tourists each year,” said Colin McLean, head of the HLF.

“Our natural heritage offers a rich resource for skills and education so HLF is delighted that this project will offer training to many young people.

“Their newly-learned skills will not only make a positive difference to their own lives, but will play an important part in looking after the future of Scotland’s magnificent landscapes.”