Core Paths in the Kyle of Sutherland area
There are more than 40 core paths around our area. Core paths are designated to facilitate and promote the exercise of access rights under the Scottish Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. In this and next editions we will be exploring each one of our core paths.
By Silvia Muras
As the Scottish Land Reform Act stipulates, each access authority has to establish a system or network of core paths “giving the public reasonable access throughout their area”, and they aim to satisfy the basic needs of local people and visitors for general access and recreation and provide links to the wider path network.
The core paths planning process involved extensive consultations, and included any objections being formally considered before the plan was finalised and adopted. The first core paths plan for Highland was adopted on 21st September 2011.
These core paths comprise a mixture of existing paths with some new paths close to where people live or visit and can range from routes worn into natural ground to high specification constructed paths.
Core paths help people to exercise their access rights with confidence, but access rights already exist as a consequence of the Land Reform Act: in Scotland, people are able to exercise their access rights, in a responsible manner, on other paths and tracks as well as on open land, hills, woodland, beaches, rivers, lochs, etc. Access rights include activities such as walking, running, horse-riding, cycling, swimming, canoeing, etc, and exclude access with motor vehicles, hunting, shooting, fishing, and foraging for commercial purposes.
When you are enjoying the outdoors, you must follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/) by:
- Respecting the interests of others.
- Caring for the environment.
- Taking responsibility for your own actions.
The code has guidance for both visitors and land managers, who must manage their land and water in a way that respects access rights.
Local Access Officers uphold access rights, and should be our first port of call for any local access enquiry, question or problem. Our local Access Officer for Caithness & Sutherland is Matt Dent and can be contacted by email and on 01408 635377.
