Ramblers and Perthshire estate in row over access to Munros
The estate is urging walkers to avoid the hills and Munros on the north side of Glen Lyon during the deer stalking season
A row has erupted between Ramblers Scotland and North Chesthill Estate in Perthshire over access to four Munros in Glen Lyon.
It comes as deer stalking is now underway at the estate, with advice on their website asking the public to 'avoid the hills and Munros on the north side of Glen Lyon behind Invervar from September through to the end of October' while it is carried out.
Ramblers Scotland have launched a petition, backed by almost 14,000 people, calling on the estate to 'end the blockade' and allow access during their deer stalking programme.
The estate say there will still be space to walk, although, they are asking people to walk elsewhere during September and October to reduce disturbance.
Calling for clear access, Ramblers Scotland director Brendan Paddy said: “We’ve seen a remarkable response since we launched our petition. Almost 14,000 people have made clear that they want Scotland’s world-class access rights to be respected - a view reinforced by both local and national authorities.
“It’s deeply disappointing that North Chesthill Estate hasn’t seen sense and followed the lead of other estates across Scotland, who prove that deer management and responsible access can go hand-in-hand. Other landowners simply guide walkers towards alternative nearby routes that avoid the exact places, times and dates they're stalking – not deter access to their entire estates for 2 months.
In response, a North Chesthill Estate statement said: "Ramblers Scotland have admitted that they organised this petition based on out-of-date information and imagery from last year's stalking season. They have refused to withdraw their misleading allegations.
"We believe this approach is disingenuous and irresponsible – and the attitude emanating from Ramblers Scotland flies in the face of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC), which calls for Responsible Access.
"North Chesthill is a small estate. Our deer stalking underwrites employment and is part of an agreed accord with our Deer Management Group and NatureScot (NS) to improve conservation across the estate and beyond.
"NS, on behalf of the Scottish Government, has set challenging targets to reduce wild deer numbers across Scotland, in order to restore nature, prevent damage and reach net-zero targets. As an Estate, we are asked to improve the conservation of alpine vegetation in a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) which is on the estate. We are mindful that a failure to prevent damage and restore nature could result in regulatory intervention by NatureScot. To this end we have already reduced our sheep numbers and have introduced a small number of native cattle to graze the hill in summer. We enjoy what we do and can contribute to dealing with conservation and climate change.
"The Estate is open all year round to the public. We host thousands of walkers annually, and request their co-operation for minimal disturbance in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, two months out of 12, when we are carrying out essential conservation work in line with government targets and providing vital income for the area.
"Deer are wild animals with a keen sense of smell and can pick up humans downwind at ranges out to and beyond 1000m. They disturb easily, by smell, noise or sight and flee. Large groups of access takers can displace deer easily making the management of deer impractical.
"Our deer management employees do not know from day to day where on the ground deer may be. They deal with constantly changing environmental, weather and animal behaviours. They may have to use the whole estate to find the right animals and to pick up further stalks if they have been disturbed earlier by walkers.
"Our experience from last year suggests that the public is genuinely mindful of our activity. Our disturbance was dramatically reduced last year-to the point that we had no disturbance at all on some days, and we saw animals in places we have not seen them in years. This gave our staff the flexibility they needed to get a good result.
"We are thankful to Murdo Fraser whose recent article in the Scotsman brought some balance and common sense to this unnecessary debate. We also thank those who e-mail us in advance looking for advice, and for those on other platforms who support us by saying we should be given the space for our operations.
"We can but thank too those walkers and members of the public who last year behaved so responsibly and avoided areas where stalking was taking place. Certainly, a few chose to ignore our request to walk elsewhere and the guidance in SOAC on responsible access taking.
"There are no alternative routes on the estate to take access to the Munros-the whole place would end up being disturbed. Large estates can absorb disturbance more easily with alternate routes. Four Munros in a circle around the estate is a unique and an impossible position to resolve.
"Irresponsible access in the last two to three years has resulted in over a dozen sheep being mauled and killed, out of control dogs preclude ground nesting birds (some on the red list) from breeding; deer calves are also mauled.
"This is why we remain very disappointed at the lack of balance in managing our wild spaces and wildlife; we ask NS to step up to the plate; and redress the free for all and disregard for SOAC which Ramblers Scotland is de facto advocating. They are very vocal on what they believe are their rights but much less so when it comes to their responsibilities.
"SOAC needs reviewed and estate activities, especially deer stalking needs protection – especially on small estates like North Chesthill. So do a wide range of other upland wildlife.
"We are about to publish our deer stalking programme and there will be space to walk although we are still politely asking (not telling) the public to walk elsewhere for a short period so as to reduce disturbance here. It is deeply regrettable that this conservation work cannot take place without a hullaballoo created by Ramblers Scotland designed to further their own political posturing."