Outdoor access rules still apply during Covid-19 pandemic, Highland Council tells land managers claiming paths are closed
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Land managers claiming paths and other routes are closed are being told to remove 'inappropriate' signs.
Highland Council’s access officers say several illegal ad hoc signs have appeared on paths and access routes during the coronavirus pandemic.
However, there is no change in the legal rights of people to access paths and other areas in towns and the countryside.
Outdoor access and long distance route manager, Philip Waite, said: “We want to remind everyone that the rights of responsible access still apply and parts of the countryside are not closed. Some signs that are appearing are not appropriate.
“Land managers do not have the legal right to block or obstruct paths or other access routes. If anyone has any concerns they should contact the local access officer by emailing access@highland.gov.uk.
“What we ask is that everyone continues to follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and the current government advice on exercising outdoors.”
The latest advice says that people can exercise outside their home once a day either alone or with members of their household.
UK health secretary Matt Hancock said in a television interview on Sunday that the government would consider banning such exercise if people flouted the social distancing rules, but it has since backtracked and said there are no plans to change the advice at present.
While exercising, people must stay local to their homes, keep at least 2m from other people, avoid contact and wash hands as soon as they return indoors.
The council said that dogs should be kept on a lead or under close control as stated in the access code.
Mr Waite added: “Remember it's lambing time, so everyone needs to give a wide berth to farms where possible. Don’t take dogs into fields with lambs or other young animals in them and avoid disturbing any wildlife or livestock.”
Meanwhile, the farming union has urged the public to be responsible on farmland during the lockdown.
NFU Scotland said its members had seen more people using farms near towns and villages for exercise as they stayed close to home and tried to avoid other people.
It asked people to remember that farming activities such as lambing and calving are ongoing and urged them not to take access to fields where there are young lambs or calves present, ensure they adhere to social distancing requirements if they come across farmers or farm workers and find alternative routes when asked to do so.
Gemma Cooper, NFU Scotland head of policy team, said: “It is important for the public to understand that farming activities are food production and these must continue during Covid-19.
"NFU Scotland is asking the public to ensure that their behaviour does not make farming activities any more difficult than they already are in these unprecedented times."
