Access and Recreation Issues

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.

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.

The orange Action Card in Part 2 of the CMP (number 34) addresses issues relating to access and recreation.