This weekend is the last chance for hill walkers to submit photos of any bulldozed tracks they have encountered. Walkers were asked to turn detective and send in evidence which will be used by campaigners who want to show the damage done to the environment by these unregulated tracks with the aim of persuading the Planning Minister to change the law so these tracks would need planning permission before they could be constructed.
Helen Todd of Ramblers Scotland and co-convener of the campaign group said: “We have long been convinced that unregulated hill tracks needed to be brought into the planning system. Currently tracks can simply be bulldozed across the countryside almost anywhere in Scotland, and have caused huge visual and environmental damage in some of Scotland’s finest landscapes. Since we asked the public for help in identifying the worst examples of hill track construction, we have received many responses that show that the problem is more widespread and serious than we had feared. We are asking people to send us any examples and information they have by 1st September, so we can build a thorough portfolio of evidence to persuade the Government to change planning laws. Photos can be sent to us at http://www.scotlink.org/hilltracks/.”
The MCofS has identified some particularly bad examples of hilltracks and is asking walkers out this weekend to see if they can provide photos or to go back through photos from recent trips to see if any would be suitable. The locations they are particularly interested in are:
- Foinaven, Sutherland
- Achnasheen
- Monar Lodge, Loch Mullardoch
- Iron Lodge, between Glen Elchaig & Loch Mullardoch
- North side of Loch Affric
- By Loch Quoich
- The series of tracks at Drumochter
- Eastern edge of Cairngorms National Park, around 10km north of Ballater
- Glen Moy (the Angus glens generally)
- Glendye
- Pykestone hill, Borders
Photos can be submitted at www.scotlink.org/hilltracks