AHillTooFar wrote:Does anyone who works for these places actually read the rules on access. Unless someone is actively carrying out work they are not closed. Same with every other route route where storm damage has occurred. Not for others to decide on what is dangerous for individuals where the danger is naturally occurring.
The Scottish government really needs to step in and deal with this.
Forestry and Land Scotland are no doubt concerned about liability for accidents and injury.
By creating trails they are in doing so inviting people to use them, they therefore have a responsibility to those that use them for their safety which is why they feel the need to protect the public and also themselves from claims against them.
This is not the same situation as normal open access.
The access law places the responsibility on land owners and managers to do what is necessary to protect those taking access on their land. This can involve taking action to deter people from using paths and trails that may be dangerous or in fact preventing acces to some areas.
However there is nothing that can stop someone from using the trails despite the warning inherent in the closure notice, but if they are injured as a result the fault lies clearly with the injured party for ignoring the warning.
Maybe people who think they know the rules should read all of them.