Environment Service Karen Morley Countryside Development Officer

Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 Right to Responsible Access “Everyone, whatever their age or ability, can exercise access rights over most land and inland water in Scotland, at any time of day or night, providing they do so responsibly”

The Councils Duty Under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, the Council has a duty to – “assert, protect, keep open and free from obstruction any route, waterway or other means where access can be reasonably exercised” Local Authorities Main tasks Core Path Network Local Access Forum

What we do Maintenance Dealing with people problems Access promotion Capital projects Maintenance Dealing with people problems Access promotion Strategic planning and development

Strategic Planning Core Path Plan Consultation process 2005 - 2011 Adopted 2012 Published 2013 1,900km of core paths in D&G

Importance of Access Strategic Planning Helps deliver local and national objectives Enhances tourism offer Delivers health benefits

South West Scotland Coastal Path South West Scotland Coast Path South West Scotland Coastal Path

Map of coastal path

2014 2014 2015 Take forward Rhins section moved forward Detailed survey Mull of Galloway to Portpatrick with detailed signed landowner agreements Further community and business meetings to gauge interest 2015 Decided to do the north Rhins as well Peninsula could be marketed independently as one route even if the rest of the SW coast path was never completed 2014

Funding secured Coastal Communities Fund £300k Heritage Lottery Fund £662.8k Scottish Rural Development Programme £50k Other funding £ 127.2k Total £1,140,000

Next Steps Project team Branding Access infrastructure Interpretation Learning activities and volunteering 3 year programme completion 2021

Questions?