The issue of core
paths all started with The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, which gave
duty to local authorities to establish core path plans sufficient to give
the public reasonable access to much of Scotland.
The theory of a core path would appear to be nice and simple – a
way through what generally can be classed as arable or improved land that
is agreeable to both the landowner and the path user. It should be mutually
beneficial; the walker has a clear and recommended route that they can
easily follow without any hassle, while the landowner knows where the
majority of visitors crossing their land will be going, and can manage
that accordingly. However, the fact that Perth and Kinross are at the
moment dealing with 900 'objections' (many of which are really additions
and suggestions) to the development of core paths in the area indicates
greater complexity.
One problem is that paths cater for a variety of users – walkers (and runners), horseriders, cyclists, and the physically impaired. There does not appear to be one specific definition of what constitutes a core path and different councils seem to interpret the legislation in a variety of ways. Some tend towards well-maintained, accessible-for-all (or most) types of path. Fortunately, Perth and Kinross takes a wider remit, perhaps because the county arguably has a greater variety of terrain than just about any other in the UK.
Friends'
input
One of FotO's guiding principles is to 'Support responsible and well behaved
public access consistent with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code'. The imminent
appearance of core paths in the OchiIs has therefore been keenly monitored
by FotO and we have taken an active role in trying to shape the final
outcome. FotO's position regarding the high ground and unimproved land
in general was submitted early in the process, when FotO hosted a public
meeting with the access officers from the three counties that cover the
Ochils in June 2007. Together, they concluded that:
• Hill paths will not in general be designated as part of the core
paths networks. These will principally be paths that go through, around
or between settlements, where it is desirable to make the route of the
path explicit both to help members of the public to find their way, and
to protect private properties from inappropriate intrusion.
• There is no intention to use the designation of core paths as
a way of restricting the right of general access to the outdoors (indeed,
this right could not legally be restricted in this way).
• Where hill paths maybe designated 'core', there could be a need
for appropriately discreet signposts to mark the precise points of departure,
but there would be no attempt to waymark the route across the hills.
The main path up Dumyat is accepted by FotO as a hill path that can be
designated a core path, becuase its very high visitor numbers are giving
rise to the need for path maintenance work.
Progress
Liaising with Perth and Kinross access
officers in August 2008, further suggestions were made:
• Waymark posts would be appropriate within improved pasture, but
not on unimproved pasture.
• Within the proposals there is a wide variation in the type of
'path' included. Some are established paths; some are forest roads; some
are lines across country where there is no evidence of a path; some are
ways that may be passable in winter, but are virtually impassable in summer
with the growth of bracken, etc; some are usable by bikes; some are already
waymarked as part of other initiatives. Thought must be given to user
expectations; should there be some grade allocated to 'paths' to avoid
the possibility of expectations not being met?
By this time, Fenwick Worrell, Stuart Dean and myself had been out and looked at various paths and we submitted 20 suggestions for appropriate routes and links between hills.
The
right balance
Following a visit to a public presentation of core paths held in Auchterarder
in 2008, I came away feeling most impressed with what had been achieved
in all of Perthshire. The process is bound, to a certain extent, to be
subjective and iterative, but it appeared that a good balance had been
achieved on the distribution of core routes, and that from a runner/walker
perspective there would be enough to keep one active for many a day.
Maps showing
the proposed core path network can now be viewed on the Perth and Kinross
Council website.
One proposal I put forward might also cause a wry smile. Early one Sunday
morning, I was out for a run with a friend and we took the path up Borland
Glen and at the watershed turned left up towards Steele's Knowe, specifically
to look at the Green Knowes wind turbines which were close to being commissioned.
There were already workers taking advantage of a good spell of weather,
torqueing down the massive bolts securing them to their foundations. We
ran along the access road to the northernmost turbine and then down the
excellent quad track by Cleuch Hill and down to what was the Glendevon
caravan park where we had left the car. It is an excellent round. It was
only later that, slightly stretching the rules we had laid down (ie does
it qualify as improved land?), I thought why not submit it as a candidate
for a core path. The suggestion has been taken on board. Perhaps it will
get people into the OchiIs for the wrong reasons, but it does provide
a range of visual experiences, and the view south west from Cleuch Hill
over Glendevon towards Ben Cleuch is very fine... until more turbines
intrude on Burnfoot Hill.
What's
Next
Once objections have been considered (and hopefully resolved), the draft
plan will be submitted to the Perth and Kinross Environment Committee
by June and, once approved, forwarded to the Scottish Government.
A click away - View the proposed (ore path network at:
www.pkc.gov.uk