![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.walkhighlands.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/A-Ramblers-group-on-a-path-near-Loch-Leven-in-Fife-800x509.jpg\")
The charity\u2019s survey of frontline staff at 32 councils and two national parks found:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Seven authorities have no Access Officers to uphold the Scottish Outdoor Access Code <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Most are reluctant to use legal powers to protect the public\u2019s access rights <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- An all-time low of just 33 full-time equivalent Access Officers, half the number employed when the \u2018Right to Roam’ went live 20 years ago <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Several authorities are failing to host Local Access Forums, statutory bodies that enable diverse voices, from landowners to walkers, to work together to find solutions. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Brendan Paddy, director of Ramblers Scotland, said: \u201cToday\u2019s shocking results show that we\u2019ve got world-class outdoor access rights, but third-rate funding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFrontline staff are sounding the alarm that the system is breaking down, as we lack the people to fix access problems and too many paths are now inaccessible, unsafe or simply no longer exist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYears of chronic underfunding mean the need\u202ffor investment in paths\u202fhas never been greater, especially in less well-off areas.\u202fRelatively small\u202fsums\u202fwill deliver big benefits for people\u2019s health and happiness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cScotland\u2019s international reputation as a pioneer of outdoor access is in danger of becoming a hollow boast, unless politicians act.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Land Reform Act 2003 is seen as one of the stand-out achievements of Scotland\u2019s devolved parliament, with more people now enjoying Scotland\u2019s countryside than ever before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Ramblers Scotland research shows that people in less well-off areas have far fewer local paths than wealthier counterparts. And investment in recreational paths is at a low ebb due to funding pots closing, a failure to adjust for inflation, and councils diverting access money to unrelated budgets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This leads to on-the-ground problems for walkers. For example, there is increasing neglect of legally-protected Core Paths; a defined 15,000-mile network of many of Scotland\u2019s most important trails. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, there is now no dedicated budget for Scotland\u2019s four National Trails – the West Highland Way, Speyside Way, Great Glen Way and Southern Upland Way. These cover a total of 500 miles and are walked millions of times each year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ahead of May\u2019s election, Ramblers Scotland is campaigning for a new \u00a350million Scottish Paths Fund during the next 5-year Holyrood parliament. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Paddy added: \u201cWhen paths crumble, gates get locked and disputes go unresolved, it\u2019s not the law that\u2019s failing, it\u2019s political will. With elections on the horizon, this is the moment to recommit to access to nature being a right, not an optional extra. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat’s why we need a \u00a350 million Scottish Paths Fund: to turn world-class access rights on paper into a reality on the ground.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The research was assisted by the Scottish Outdoor Access Network (SOAN), which links more than 200 access employees. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Scotland\u2019s world-class outdoor access rights are\u00a0being pushed to\u00a0breaking point due to\u00a0a collapse in\u00a0investment\u00a0in\u00a0staff and\u00a0paths, a new\u00a0report\u00a0has revealed today.\u00a0\u00a0 Since\u00a02003, people in Scotland have enjoyed a legal right to walk,\u00a0cycle, ride\u00a0horses\u00a0and exercise on\u00a0nearly all\u00a0land, provided they behave responsibly.\u00a0\u00a0 But a new report from Ramblers Scotland shows these rights are being hollowed out by a combination of underfunding and a lack of staff to handle soaring complaints about blocked trails, broken bridges and irresponsible access. The charity\u2019s survey of frontline staff at 32 councils and two national parks found: Brendan Paddy, director of Ramblers Scotland, said: \u201cToday\u2019s shocking results show that we\u2019ve got world-class outdoor access rights, but third-rate funding. \u201cFrontline staff are sounding the alarm that the system is breaking down, as we…<\/span> <\/p>\n
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