1. Environment Service
Karen Morley Countryside Development Officer

2. 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”

3. 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

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

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

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

7. South West Scotland Coastal Path
South West Scotland Coast Path
South West Scotland Coastal Path

14. Map of coastal path

18. 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

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

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

21. Questions?