ACCESS

Riding on Scotland's Towpaths brings with it different issues and along with Scottish Natural Heritage and British Waterways BHSS has produced a leaflet with hopefully some commonsense information, and although its specifically aimed at those who ride alongside canals, it is useful for all riders who take access in the countryside. As there are many carriage drivers who drive on canal towpaths we hope that they will read it too. Click here for a copy of the guidance

Horse Dung - a dirty word!  There have been a lot of complaints to BHS Scotland about dung on roads, paths, tracks, fields, etc.  Complaints come from many areas including riders, house owners, farmers, local authorities as well as many others.  We have informed everyone that its not like dog faeces, there is no law against it, but we decided that it would be a good idea to produce some guidance on the problem. This guidance is only applicable in Scotland.  Click here for a copy of the dung guidance

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 MEAG summer 09 newslewtter on access group page

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BHS

Scotland Access Committee heads for Oatridge College for some wet weather training

In May 2009 we held a training meeting at Oatridge College near Edinburgh.  Although the weather was not conducive to outdoor walks everyone turned up in wet weather gear and Kevin Fairclough, the Paths For All Partnership Technical Officer gave us a guided tour of the access facility at Oatridge.

The facility is in the process of being completed and demonstrates good practice in a variety of settings, eg the Glentrool bridge, where it has been modified to make it more horse friendly, a kissing gate designed for disabled users but which can be used by horses.  A variety of surfaces are also on show, many of which horses can access and a few which are not ideal, but may play their part in a difficult setting. 

Many of the demonstration facilities are regularly used by the students and the horses at the Scottish National Equestrian Centre.  Indeed representatives of one of the affiliated access groups present thought it would be an excellent idea for training their own horses and this will be taken forward later this year.

As most of the Scottish volunteers are seriously involved in access taking as well as access issues, and most sit on the Local Authority and National Park Authority local access fora, Kevin tailored his presentation accordingly, discussing surfaces such as Toptrek, grasscrete and its plastic counterparts, recycled tyre mixes and many others, including boardwalks.  There was much discussion on this, as well as bridge deck surfacing, bridge loading and abutment design.  He also looked at case studies, eg in Clackmannanshire on the Devon Way where a variety of surfaces are being trialled on one length of path.  Parts of the Pennine Way were held up as good practice and where Scotland should be looking for some of its ideas.

Although Land Reform has progressed and profiled equestrian access in Scotland further and higher than it has ever gone before, it is still early in its implementation.  BHSS is working closely with Paths for All Partnership (PFAP), and others like Central Scotland Forest Trust to take multi-use access forward in a consistent way

The PFAP has produced the “Path Bridges Guide” in conjunction with Scottish Natural Heritage and Forestry Civil Engineering.  This book has sold widely across the world and deals with the planning, design, construction and maintenance of path bridges on multiuse tracks.  www.pathsforall.org.uk.  They also run a very useful suite of training courses throughout the year.

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Safe off-road riding is essential for all horse riders whatever their particular interest.  BHS Scotland works towards achieving this for all horse riders by having a network of access volunteers throughout Scotland in touch with their local authority.  Our aim is to ensure that horse riders are considered along with cyclists and walkers when off-road routes are being planned.  We are always looking for more people to come forward and join us in obtaining better facilities for horse riders. Click here to see our current vacancies.

The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 which went live in February 2005 gives the opportunity for horse riders and carriage drivers, as well as other non-motorised users to access the countryside more easily and to understand what they can and cannot do
This includes
- a clearer legal basis for access
- responsibility being the key principle for using access rights and for managing land
- safeguards for privacy, land management and conservation
- new duties and powers for local authorities and other public bodies
- adequate resources to make the proposals work well.

   Scottish Natural Heritage has useful information on the access legislation, www.outdooraccess-scotland.com/

  You can also download the Scottish Outdoor Access Code which that gives information on most scenarios, and which everyone should understand.

BHS has just launched a mapping stragegy (EMAGIN) which aims to collate all riding routes in Scotland, England & Wales.  for more information click here.

Riding constantly in a riding arena is no substitute for getting out into the countryside and exercising your horse whilst you enjoy the scenery.  Scotland has some of the most spectacular landscape in the world, so why not take your horse away for a couple of hours, a day or even a long weekend?

You can contact Pat Somerville, the Scottish Access Officer on access@bhsscotland.org.uk

Pat has recently joined the Board of Directors of The Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society, an independent body that, for the last 160 years, has worked to safeguard the public's rights of access to the countryside.  The organisation is busier than ever dealing with new issues that arise as a result of the new legal rights of access.

Paths for All Partnership - Whether you are a rider, a carriage driver, an access expert, a community group or just interested in outdoor access then look no further!  The Paths for All Partnership website provides advice and support, publications and resources as well as training and useful information and links: www.pathsforall.org.uk.  While you are there, why not download the BHS/PfAP Equestrian Access Factsheets? 

Before you venture out, why not check what the weather and tides will be doing?