Sorry Angus but - Rant on
Guys who are these "ramblers" you all seem to speak about so disparagingly?
The word seems to be used by the press to include anyone who accesses the countryside for recreation - that means you.
In the eyes of the press you are a rambler too.
The ramblers association has done a power of good standing up for access rights and I for one have nothing against them.
Scottish access rights are enshrined in law. Until comparitively recently the land was considered to be owned by the people of Scotland and they had specific rights to use it in certain ways - collecting peats, seaweed, firewood etc. Right of navigation on rivers and the right to cross land and to camp on it.
These rights were gradually eroded and ultimately wiped out by the landowning "gentry" who took it as far as the clearances.
If you dont know about the clearances have a look here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_clearances
The Scottish Parliament and the people of Scotland have worked hard to reclaim those ancient rights - this culminated in the recent access legislation that effectively states that the people of Scotland own the right to move freely across their own country.
There will always be individuals like the Gloags who will try to challenge these rights and thats fine - thats what the courts are for. But to listen to some of you saying that its ok for some people to access the countryside because they will respect it but not for others because they dont, sticks in my throat.
In my mind it's access for all and try and educate - or it's back to the bad old days of "private" and "keep out" and the land divided into playgrounds for the "lairds" only.
Rant off.
George
PS I say this as a crofter and "landowner" who regularly has to explain "responsible access" to visitors crossing the land I look after.