Restore access to the mountains and coastline.

Scotland is blessed with extensive tracts of sparsely populated 'wild' land and coastline. Our access rights have been completely blocked by the lockdown. The 'New Normal' should restore access to our own land and coast. Hillwalking, hiking, wild camping, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, fishing etc are activities that can be enjoyed alone, with a group of family members or in 'a bubble' with minimum risk of viral transmission. The risk of contaminating surfaces (such as farm gates etc) can easily be mitigated by the adherence to some simple guidelines (as was the case with foot and mouth a few years ago).

Why the contribution is important

The health benefits (physical and emotional) arising from exercise in the wider outdoors should be reason enough to restore access to our land and coast. The New Normal is, it seems, our future. To exclude Scots from our own land should not be part of our future.

by aloneinthehills on May 06, 2020 at 10:19AM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.7
Based on: 19 votes

Comments

  • Posted by lmg1612 May 06, 2020 at 14:29

    Yes please

  • Posted by JingsCrivens May 06, 2020 at 16:05

    There are recent reports of the rescue services being called out to rescue people in distress. Perhaps these activities could be allowed with a disclaimer that no rescue would be involved if individual got into trouble. Perhaps not quite so attractive a prospect with that restriction.

  • Posted by EllieMc May 07, 2020 at 17:28

    It would be very difficult to achieve social distancing if, for example, the car parks surrounding Ben Nevis, were reopened. Before the crisis, this would've been a highly trafficked area even in poorer weather. It would be very difficult to decide which areas and activities could reopen/recommence. Maybe there would be certain places that would have to remain closed? I say this as someone who is desperately keen to be allowed back into the hills! I agree in principal with the idea of allowing people to venture into the outdoors, but I think there needs to be much clearer guidance on how this would work in terms of keeping infection rates low.

  • Posted by Stitchwort May 09, 2020 at 10:20

    Access rights have not been "completely blocked by the lockdown"; these rights still exist, but there is the perception that they have been suspended. Restrictions on travel, and car park closures, make it impractical for many people to exercise their access rights. Rural car parks, eg those owned by Forestry and Land Scotland should be opened.
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