Access issues

More investment in nature reserves and rangers

Posted on March 24, 2021 by Paul Webster

Funding of £750,000 is being invested in NatureScot’s National Nature Reserves (NNRs) in preparation for visitors this summer. Up to 20 additional rangers and other staff are also being recruited to welcome people back and help them to respect, protect and enjoy our great outdoors. This is in additional to the new rangers already announced by both the Cairngorms National Park and Highland Council. More than a million people are estimated to have visited one of the nature agency’s 29 National Nature Reserves in 2020, a record number that is expected to increase this year. With coronavirus restrictions set to be eased…

Posted in Access issues, Nature, News

Walkhighlands plans major responsible access campaign

Posted on March 22, 2021 by Paul Webster

We’re planning to run a responsible access campaign across Walkhighlands during this summer. When mainland travel restrictions are lifted on 26th April, we’ll be replacing the Covid messaging (currently “Stay at Home”) across the website to a call of “Let’s Keep Scotland’s Outdoors Special”. The messaging will run across the top of everyone of the 2,100+ free walks on the website, which has also removed all automated advertising. Last summer, we saw more than a million walks being downloaded from Walkhighlands in a single month. All walks will now include the new messaging. The campaign aims to reinforce Scotland’s Outdoor…

Posted in Access issues, Magazine, Nature, News, Walkhighlands news

Travel restrictions within mainland Scotland to end on 26th April

Posted on March 16, 2021 by Paul Webster

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced a new timetable for the lifting of Coronavirus restrictions. The instruction to ‘Stay at Home’ will end on 2nd April, subject to continued positive data, and will be replaced by an instruction to ‘Stay Local’. More significant for those interested in outdoor recreation and getting away from the cities, it is hoped that restrictions on travel within all areas of mainland Scotland will end on 26th April. It is expected that this lifting of travel restrictions will also include those from the rest of the UK coming to Scotland. Accommodation businesses are expected to…

Posted in Access issues, Magazine, News, Walkhighlands news

Getting Scotland’s outdoors ready for busyness

Posted on March 12, 2021 by Helen Todd

Helen Todd, campaigns and policy manager at Ramblers Scotland, takes a look at efforts to ensure Scotland will be better prepared than last summer to cope with the pent-up demand for the great outdoors when lockdown is eased. Last summer, outdoor recreation in Scotland hit the headlines, but not always for the right reasons. After all the pain of the first Covid lockdown, it was uplifting to see so many people – especially beginners – enjoying the outdoors. In fact, a major independent survey published this month by the David Hume Institute (DHI) showed 36% of people in Scotland spent…

Posted in Access issues, Features, Magazine

A Dog’s Life

Posted on March 7, 2021 by Lucy Wallace

What does it mean to be a responsible dog owner in the hills with an enthusiastic young dog? Wildlife Guide Lucy Wallace is finding out. Meet Nuis… a yearling border collie with a big heart. He is officially a Good Boy, but there are two things that he finds really tricky: walking nicely on the lead (more on that shortly), and not chasing stuff. Nuis will chase everything. This includes (but is not limited to) bikes, balls, deer, other dogs, cars, leaves, cats, squirrels, birds, people and I’m sure if he could get the chance, sheep. He’s fun loving, impulsive,…

Posted in Access issues, Features, Magazine, Nature

Data shows most Scots staying local for walks

Posted on January 6, 2021 by Helen Webster

An analysis of walkhighlands traffic data suggests that most people in Scotland are respecting the Coronavirus travel restrictions when taking their outdoor exercise. There has been a huge shift away from searches for walks in remoter parts of the Highlands, with record people searching out walks close to the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, and the rest of the central belt. “We all tend to get discouraged by stories on social media about people flouting the rules and travelling wherever they like,” said site co-founder Helen Webster. “Undoubtedly such people exist, and they tend to generate a lot of noise…

Posted in Access issues, Magazine, News, Walkhighlands news

Cairngorm snow gates closed at Glenmore

Posted on December 28, 2020 by Paul Webster

The snow gates on the road up to Cairngorm were closed at Glenmore on Christmas Eve, and are set to remain closed during the current Coronavirus restrictions. This means there is currently no vehicle access to the Coire Cas or Coire na Ciste car parks, nor to the Forestry and Land Scotland car parks at the Sugar Bowl and Allt Mor, even for local residents. We were informed of the closure by Forestry and Land Scotland, who pointed out that they were not involved in the decision, which was requested by Cairngorm Mountain, who have said that Highland Council and…

Posted in Access issues, Magazine, News, Walkhighlands news

Scottish Outdoor Access job cuts despite growth in walking and cycling

Posted on November 19, 2020 by Helen Webster

Landowners and outdoor groups are jointly calling for better resourcing to support Scotland’s world-class access rights – as a new survey highlights alarming cutbacks in countryside access jobs. Scottish Outdoor Access Network (SOAN) polled all 34 access authorities on how they manage access, a topic which has hit the headlines during the Covid era due to booming numbers of people heading outdoors. The survey showed that during 2019/20: · Six authorities do not employ a single Access Officer; skilled professionals who find practical solutions to access challenges, and ensure the local authorities carry out their statutory duties · The equivalent of just 36.5 full-time…

Posted in Access issues, Magazine

Walking in Scotland’s level 3 & 4 areas – part 2

Posted on November 14, 2020 by Paul Webster

Do you live in one of Scotland’s local authorities that are currently under level 3 Coronavirus restrictions? We’re taking a look at what walking opportunities are still available to you, within the government guidance. The first half of this article, covering level 3 Coronavirus restriction areas from Angus to Glasgow, can be read here. Inverclyde The classic walk in Inverclyde is the excellent Greenock Cut, a circuit following an old aqueduct above the towns, with fantastic views across the Clyde. For a short outing, Craig’s Top rewards the effort of ascent with panoramas over both Greenock and Gourock, or there’s…

Posted in Access issues, Features, Magazine

Walking for those in Scotland’s level 3 & 4

Posted on November 13, 2020 by Paul Webster

The continuing coronavirus pandemic has seen restrictions on travel in Scotland (and the rest of the UK) – cutting down on the areas where we can walk. Those of us who are lucky enough to live in Aberdeenshire, Argyll & Bute, Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, Highland, Moray, Orkney, Shetland or the Western Isles are currently allowed to travel and walk within all of those areas, but not travel into a level 3 area for a walk. But for those living in a level 3 area, all is not lost – as you can still travel to begin your exercise throughout…

Posted in Access issues, Features, Magazine