Action is needed to protect The Royal Way

May I through your newspaper draw people’s attention to a matter of considerable importance and urgency.

I refer to a threat to the ancient right of way that follows the route of least gradient from Tarbert Harbour to Tarbert Castle. The old people called this route The Royal Way. It runs through Kings Way, where Bruce’s Brig crossed Black’s Burn, past Tarbert Academy, through Baluachrach to approach the western walls of Tarbert Castle.

Why it was given its name is obvious and, though not documented, it is likely that Kenneth MacAlpine himself travelled it.

This is an invaluable cultural asset both locally and nationally but its continued existence is now under threat from a planning application which, if granted, will close a short section of The Royal Way to the public.

The planning application was advertised on September 20 under the case reference 19/01854/PP (retrospective) but appears, from the representation made on it to date, to have attracted little attention.

Local authorities have a duty under section 13 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 to ‘assert, protect and keep open and free from obstruction’ rights of way but inexplicably our council has never included The Royal Way in its Register of Core Paths thus leaving it vulnerable to threats of closure.

However, if enough people, including the many who have walked The Royal Way and particularly the stretch between the Tarbert Academy area and Tarbert Castle, are prepared to demand its protection and, if able, to give testimony that they did walk it ‘openly and peaceably’ (even if only once in their lives) The Royal Way’s future can be secured.

People should also bear in mind that the threatened section of The Royal Way is shown on Ordnance Survey maps, title deeds plans, planning application plans and Land Registry plans. It is shown clearly on the ground as a

very short length of the easiest route of access to Tarbert Castle and its grounds for those with mobility problems and the safest route for Tarbert Academy children pursuing educational projects.

The Royal Way matters and I cannot think that future generations will think much of us if we just sit back and let something of such value slip through our hands.

I would urge everyone who has an interest in Tarbert’s history (and Scotland’s) and who is concerned about the protection of our cultural heritage to look at the planning application and the representation already made on it and to consider if they too should have their say. Arthur McFarlane, Mount Pleasant, Tarbert.