Ramblers Scotland and the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) are urging the public to oppose the ban on wild camping proposed for large areas of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.
Loch Lomond
Last October, the National Park held a public consultation on proposals to introduce byelaws to ban camping in response to over-crowding and incidents of antisocial behaviour in the national park. Just over half of all respondents said they didn’t want this restriction to their rights. However the National Park wants to go ahead with this part of the proposals and has asked the Environment Minister, Aileen McLeod, to approve the plan.
Ramblers Scotland says that, “If this goes ahead, this is the last summer that informal camping will be possible across huge swathes of the National Park.” The organisation acknowledges that there are issues relating to visitor pressure, but says introducing new byelaws is not the solution.
David Gibson, Chief Officer of the MCofS believes the proposed rules are “draconian” and says, “This will mean that we will not be able to bivvy beside the car to get an early start in the morning or camp overnight beside the road whilst cycle touring through the National Park. Our hard won rights of access are being eroded by the introduction of these byelaws that are not proven to work. The National Park Authority has not provided facilities for camping and yet is intending to prevent law abiding citizens from exercising their rights.”
Ramblers Scotland says, “This proposal is unfair to the vast majority of people who camp responsibly. The proposals will unfairly affect the many people who do – or would like to – camp responsibly and comply with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.”
The organisation believes the byelaws won’t solve the problem, “those who are acting irresponsibly or criminally will simply be moved on to other locations, causing problems elsewhere. Providing facilities, such as campsites, litter bins and toilets, to support visitors to the Park to behave responsibly would resolve many of these concerns.”
Ramblers Scotland is also concerned about the further restrictions in the future in other areas, “using byelaws and introducing camping permits in this way undermines our legal rights of access established in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and could set precedents for introducing more restrictions to our activities.”
Both organisations are asking the public to take five minutes to email the Minister with their concerns and help to save our camping rights.
Objections have to be made by 21 June either by email to NationalParks@Scotland.gsi.gov.uk or by writing to
Gordon Robertson,
Scottish Government, Forestry and Environment Directorate,
Natural Resources Division,
1C North, Victoria Quay,
Edinburgh EH6 6QQ.
Further information about the proposals can be found on the National Park website and the Ramblers have also provided links to their briefing paper on the subject on the Ramblers Scotland website. Further background to the consultation process can be found on Walkhighlands in addition to a column on the subject by Cameron McNeish in which he describes the camping ban proposals as “shameful and unnecessary”.