‘Slippery slope’ for walkers?

Ben Dolphin, new president of Ramblers Scotland, tells Michael Alexander what he hopes to achieve

From exploring the beaches of Cornwall on family holidays to night hikes with the Scouts over the Malvern Hills, the great outdoors has been a part of Ben Dolphin’s life for as long as he can remember.

But the newly appointed president of Ramblers Scotland, who lives in the Lomond Hills, Fife, is fearful the right of walkers to roam freely – and responsibly – in Scotland may be under threat.

His concerns stem from the recent introduction of new by-laws restricting camping and fire lighting across Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park which Ben fears could be the “slippery slope” to further controls on access rights across the country.

Camping management zones have been created at key sites covering less than 4% of the Loch Lomond park’s 460,900 acres.

People can still stay there but must buy a permit or stay in an official camp site.

The policy, now in effect from March until September, was tabled by park management in response to anti-social behaviour and concerns about rubbish abandoned on the loch shores.

But Ben believes the measures are “heavy handed” and could open the door to further restrictions.

He said: “It potentially criminalises a well behaved majority who value the loch shores. Concerns could become more prevalent. It is a worry. There are so many loch sides.

“I think it is a slippery slope. Ramblers Scotland will be pushing when it’s up for review in 2020. At the moment we are asking people to report back on their experience of how the by-law is working.”

Ben, 41, whose day job is as a West Lothian Council ranger, was elected president of Ramblers Scotland – the representative body for Scottish walkers – in March.

A contributor to the Walkhighlands website, Outdoor Enthusiast magazine and a blogger on his own Benvironment website, he follows in the footsteps of the late conservationist Dick Balharry, award-winning broadcaster Cameron McNeish and most recently Dr Andrew Murray, who was the Scottish Government’s first Physical Activity Champion.

Ben is planning to use his presidency to encourage even more people to explore Scotland on foot.

“A lot of people have heard about the right to roam but they don’t really know that a landowner can’t put up an unwelcoming sign saying things like ‘No dogs’ or ‘No cycling’,” he said.

And while walkers need to know their rights, he stresses that countryside users also have to respect the environment and the rights of landowners too.

“The public has rights. But they also have to realise that people are living off the land,” he added.

It potentially criminalises a well behaved majority