Hill Tracks Campaign - e-petition

Lynne and I have just signed this important petition at Hilltracks campaign, where you will find details. Wild areas in Scotland are being ruined by the uncontrolled bulldozing of ugly tracks, and the issue has now been taken up by Peter Peacock MSP after Hebe Carus of the MCofS raised the problem with him. Please take a moment to visit the link and consider signing the petition. (Source of information: "Scottish Mountaineer").

Waymarking

I was pleased to see that 70% of those who wrote to the MCofS regarding waymarking on Scottish hills were against it (although 18% of those were for it on a few 'honey-pot' mountains) and 30% were in favour. (Source: 'Scottish Mountaineer'). Personally, I don't want urbanisation to go along with the, admittedly worse, industrialisation that is taking place on our hills. 'Honey-pot' mountains already have good paths and cairns, usually far more than are needed. In addition, waymarking is usually unsympathetic in my experience:

This sign is not on a hill and gives directions at the start of a 'trail', but what was wrong with the old one on the right? Why is the new one so big and intrusive? The new cairns on Ben Nevis are, apparently, 6ft high!

As one writer points out, there are already plenty of  waymarked trails for those who like them. People who want to go into remote country should learn to navigate. Let's keep what wildness we have left, wild.

Electric Fences - response from Hebe Carus, MCofS Access and Conservation Officer

I have now received a reply to my query regarding the erection of electric fences in the Angus hills. My thanks to Hebe Carus, Mountaineering Council of Scotland's (MCofS) Access and Conservation Officer, for his prompt reply.

 If you climb and/or walk in Scotland, please consider joining the MCofS which represents climbers, hillwalkers and mountaineers in Scotland. Visit http://www.mcofs.org.uk/


Here is Hebe's reply:

"hi gibson and lynne

"That could be a book in itself if Iwere to answer with all the relevant laws and regulations. Equally without looking into specific case I dont think anyone can say whether or not the fence was erected for the purpose of preventing access. What I can definitely say, and will probably be more useful to you is the knowledge that all fences should be made crossable due to the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, whatever their purpose. That means there should be reasonable provision of crossing points and / or the type of fence that is easily crossable. If there isn't a reasonable provision of crossing points, you are within your rights to climb a fence / locked gate / dyke - choosing the most sturdy point - respectively fence post / hinge end / through stone. I am aware of a few fences around the Angus Glens that do not follow this, and are being dealt with by local Access Officer, and it is vital that if you find a fence with insufficient crossing points, please send a report to the relevant local Access Forum (based in the relevant Council and also contacts listed on http://www.mcofs.org.uk/access-reporting.asp and copy to myself so I can follow up. I have also planned an article for the next TSM on this very topic."

hebe


Hebe Carus- Access and Conservation Officer