Access and recreation

Recreation has an important contribution to make to the local economy of Deeside. Many thousands of people visit Deeside each year - from elsewhere in Scotland and from further afield – to walk, climb, camp, orienteer, cycle, horse ride, canoe, ski. The hills and glens of Deeside are also working estates and the activities they provide - hunting, shooting and fishing – generate significant income for the local area.

The Land Reform (Scotland) Act (LRSA)2003, which was enacted on the 9th February 2005, establishes a statutory right of responsible access to land and inland waters. To help encourage responsible use of the countryside the Scottish Executive, in association with Scottish Natural Heritage, have produced a Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC); SOAC gives detailed guidance on the responsibilities of people who are exercising access rights and of those who manage land and water. The LRSA sets out where and when access rights apply. The Code defines how access rights should be exercised.

Some popular recreational activities on Deeside are considered to conflict with each other; in particularly riverside walking and canoeing are perceived to conflict with angling interests. To examine these perceived conflicts the DSFIA, AC and SNH commissioned a study during 2002/ 2003. The general conclusions of the study were that relationships between the various users of the river are on the whole very cordial, but there are a number of “hotspots” that require some management.

Litter and toileting are the greatest issues affecting the water environment in relation to recreational use, particularly when associated with wild camping when the nearest facilities can be some distance away.

The River Dee and Deeside are renowned for their wonderful scenery and rich cultural heritage. Many thousands of people visit the area each year - from elsewhere in Scotland and further afield - to walk, climb, fish or canoe. The hills and glens of Deeside are also working estates with hunting, shooting and fishing being key activities in terms of income generation for the local area.

Some activities are considered by some to be in conflict with each other, particularly riverside walking or canoeing and angling. This conflict was expected to increase with the introduction of the Access Legislation, part of the

, so over 2002/ 2003 the Dee Salmon Fishing Improvement Association, Aberdeenshire Council and Scottish Natural Heritage commissioned a study to examine the perceived conflicts between user groups on the River Dee. The general conclusions of the study were that relationships between the various users of the river are on the whole very cordial but there are a number of “hotspots” that require some management.

Click here for a copy of the River Dee Access and Fishing Study

Litterand toileting are one of the greatest issues affecting the water environment in relation to recreational use, particularly when associated with wild camping when the nearest facilities can be some distance away. Guidelines state that to avoid contamination of the watercourse you should not urinate within 30m of a river or burn and defecation should be done as far away from water as possible with faeces buried in a shallow hole and the turf replaced.

The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 was finally enacted on the 9th February 2005. The Scottish Executive, in association with Scottish Natural Heritage, have produced a Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC) to help encourage responsible use of the Countryside. For information about responsible Access and the SOAC, go to the

website.

If you want to know more about outdoor activities in Deeside, further information can be found on the following websites:

General Activities –

Walking and Cycling –

Canoeing –

Fishing –

Current initiatives that are looking to improve the recreational provision whilst at the same time trying to reduce user conflict and the affect that these activities have on the nature conservation of the area include UDAT (based in Upper Deeside) and ACP (based in Aberdeen) which are partnership projects with a remit to develop access and improve biodiversity in conjunction with local communities. Local Authorities, including the CNPA, have also begun the Core Path Planning process which is one of their new duties set out in the LRSA. Each area will need to have a draft Core Path Plan by February 2008.

See Action Card 34.