In history’s footsteps

Hundreds of miles of heritage paths snake their way across Scotland. Gayle Ritchie meets those on a mission to preserve and promote the old routes...

Hundreds of heritage paths wind their way across Scotland. Gayle Ritchie finds out more.

Adusting of snow coats the hills and fields around Scone and there’s scarcely a breath of wind.

On a lonely path just outside the Perthshire village, a dog trots along with its owner who, dressed in green and sporting a tweed cap, is mounted on horseback.

Hoof and paw prints make their marks in the white stuff as the trio tramp the Coronation Road – an ancient route thought to have been built for the kings of Scotland as they moved between the palaces of Falkland and Scone.

Today, horse, dog and human aren’t taking on quite such a major feat. Rather, they’re enjoying the simple pleasures of exploring a section of this scenic trail.

The rider in question is Karen Inkster, and she’s accompanied by her rescue animals – collie Pip who is deaf, and coloured mare Connie.

As development officer at ScotWays, the UK’s oldest outdoor access group, part of Karen’s job is to research, promote and preserve heritage paths so that future generations can continue to enjoy them.

Karen, 42, is hugely passionate about riding, and while she competes in cross country, show jumping and endurance events, she loves nothing better than taking on long-distance adventures with her four-legged friends.

Last year, she completed a mission which saw her, Connie and Pip travel the length of the Outer Hebrides to raise funds for Riding for the Disabled.

“We rode two heritage paths, including the Old Road to Tarbet in Harris, which is a former packhorse route,” she recalls. “It was a lovely, albeit boggy path which climbed up to a bealach (mountain pass), boasting stunning views across a loch.”

The trio also spent two days trekking sandy trails and beaches on the Machair Path on South Uist.

Hebridean memories aside, Karen, who lives in Caputh, Perthshire, appreciates what’s on her doorstep and the Coronation Road is one of her favourite heritage paths.

“It’s an old carriage road that must have seen a lot of traffic over the centuries,” she says.

“Starting at New Scone, it winds past trees, fields and dykes and into forestry and passes Elcho Castle above the River Tay.

“It’s open to riders, cyclists and walkers and it’s great to see people using it.”

At this point, Karen’s colleague – ScotWays former vice-chairman Richard Barron – appears on foot and tells us more about the path’s history.

“One theory why it’s called the Coronation Road is because the Earl of Fife had the hereditary responsibility of crowning the king, and would’ve had to travel to Scone,” he explains.

“If this is the case, then the road must date to the very early Medieval period as the Stone of Destiny was taken to London by Edward I.

“Another theory is that it was used by the Scottish Royal Family to travel between Scone and Falkland.”

In Angus, there are dozens of ancient rights of way and some, like the Firmounth and the Reedie Market Drove Road, were used by drovers taking cattle to market, while The Monega Pass, between Glen Isla and Glen Clunie south of Braemar, and the Fungal Road, between Glen Esk and Birsemore near Aboyne, were reputedly used by smugglers.

“There are also herring roads, salter’s roads, military roads, coffin roads, kirk roads – all names that reflect purpose,” says Richard.

One of the most famous rights of way in Scotland is Jock’s Road, part of the Tolmount linking Glen Clova with Braemar.

It’s often said to be named after John (Jock) Winter, a shepherd who, in 1888 along with the Scottish Rights of Way Society, successfully challenged the landowner and established the route as

The problem is that these roads and bridges have been given very little formal protection