A LONG-running dispute over access to four Munros in Glen Lyon has flared up again, with Ramblers Scotland accusing a Perthshire estate of attempting to restrict walkers during the autumn stalking season.
The estate, however, argues the campaign is based on “misleading and inaccurate” information, and insists the hills remain open.
For walkers heading into the Perthshire hills this autumn, the four Munros north of Invervar – Càrn Gorm, Meall Garbh, Càrn Mairg and Creag Mhòr – came perilously close to being off limits following another furore over access rights.
North Chesthill Estate has now confirmed that “all walking routes will be open” during September and October, although deer stalking will still take place.
That reassurance comes after a fresh row over walking routes, and after Ramblers Scotland launched a petition accusing the estate of attempting to impose a blanket two-month ban on hikers.
The disagreement has echoes of last year’s controversy, when signs appeared on the estate carrying the message “No Walking. We Are Stalking.” from September to October.
For now, the signs have been removed, but tensions over the dispute haven’t disappeared quite so quickly.
Scotland’s access laws give the public broad rights to walk across most land, provided those rights are exercised responsibly. Deer stalking is one of the situations in which walkers are expected to take account of land management activities and, where appropriate, use alternative routes.
The Scottish Outdoor Access Code says land managers should provide information about where stalking is taking place and, where necessary, suggest alternative routes.
Crucially, its guidance says requests to avoid areas should relate to specific days and the minimum area necessary, and should include alternative routes where appropriate. It also says that signs which effectively prevent access to major summits such as Munros are “not appropriate”.
The same guidance makes clear that the two activities are not inherently incompatible.
“Deer stalking and outdoor recreation are long established in the Scottish uplands and both are of considerable economic and social importance,” it says, adding that they “usually co-exist with few problems”.
The challenge is what happens when a popular walking route and a stalking operation want to use the same piece of mountain at the same time.
Ramblers Scotland launched its latest petition on August 12, arguing that North Chesthill was once again attempting to keep walkers away from the hills for the whole of September and October.
The charity’s director – Brendan Paddy – described what it called the estate’s “blanket 2-month ban” as unfair to walkers, visitors and local tourism businesses.
“Nothing in Scotland’s access laws allow the unilateral closure of an entire estate for two months for deer stalking,” he said.
“Other estates across Scotland prove that stalking and responsible public access can go hand-in-hand. So why not North Chesthill?”
Ramblers Scotland says the estate covers around 2,600 hectares and that the four Munros have been the subject of access complaints for many years. Walkhighlands has described the area as having a reputation as “the least friendly in Scotland for hillwalkers”.
The campaign quickly gathered thousands of signatures, but North Chesthill Estate has rejected the campaign’s account, describing it as “misleading and inaccurate”.
Speaking to STV News, the estate said the controversial signs referred to by Ramblers Scotland were historic and had not been used for some time.
It confirmed the signs had been removed, saying: “All walking routes will be open, but stalking will still be taking place”.
Its website currently asks the public to avoid the hills and Munros north of Glen Lyon behind Invervar for “a few short weeks” in accordance with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
Ramblers Scotland, however, argues that this wording does not go far enough. The charity says it wants the estate to make clear that walkers will be welcomed throughout the stalking season, with requests to avoid particular areas made only when and where stalking is actually taking place.
“We’d appreciate a statement from North Chesthill Estate assuring us, the public and the authorities that walkers will be welcomed this September and October,” a Ramblers Scotland spokesman said.
Can stalking and walking can coexist for the Munros?
There is a genuine practical issue behind the dispute.
Red deer are highly sensitive to human activity. Walkers moving through an area where stalking is taking place can disturb deer and make it harder for stalkers to carry out planned management.
The Scottish Outdoor Access Code therefore asks walkers to find out where stalking is happening, follow reasonable requests to use alternative routes and remain flexible. It also asks land managers to communicate clearly with visitors.
The official guidance recommends that requests should be specific rather than general, as in they should relate to particular days and the smallest area necessary, while alternative routes should be offered where possible.
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