Annual Report 2020 The Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society Directors’ report VIRTUAL GOVERNING DOCUMENT change. The Directors all have an interest The Society is a company limited by in the outdoors and in rights of access guarantee and is a charity registered with and bring a balanced mix of skills and ANNUAL GENERAL the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator. knowledge about access matters. It is governed by its Articles of Association. Day to day running of the Society is the MEETING 2020 Each member of the society has undertaken responsibility of the Chief Operating Officer, to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 Richard Barron, and National Secretary, Alison towards any deficit arising in the event of Riddell, supported by staff and volunteers. the Society being wound up. The Directors present their report and the OBJECTS The Society’s Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 21 November 2020 at accounts for the year ended 30 June 2020. The charitable objective of the Society is 11am. In the light of the restrictions resulting from the pandemic, Directors have decided “the preservation, defence, restoration and PREPARATION acquisition, for the public benefit, of public to hold the AGM as a virtual meeting by Zoom. This will require access to a computer or OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS rights of access in Scotland, including public mobile device with access to the internet via a web browser, but there is no requirement The financial statements have been prepared rights of way, and related amenity.” to download any software to take part. If you would like to attend, you must first register in accordance with the Society’s governing The Society is the independent charity using this link: http://bit.ly/ScotWaysAGM2020. Details for joining and participating in document, current statutory requirements which upholds public access in Scotland. the AGM will be sent to you along with guidance notes nearer the time. Other groups have and the Statement of Recommended Founded in 1845, it combines three main found that their attendance at such meetings has increased as the travel and weather are Practice: Accounting and Reporting by roles: expert authority and adviser on the no longer a deterrent, so we are hoping the same applies here. Charities (SORP FRS 102) (second edition – law of access; custodian and manager of the October 2019, effective 1 January 2019). national resource of information about access The formal notice and agenda appears on page 11. The AGM papers are available on our routes and rights; and practical guardian and website: https://www.scotways.com/news/654-scotways-agm-2020. To obtain a printed STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE advocate of public access on the ground, in copy, please email [email protected] or leave a message on the office answering machine AND MANAGEMENT town and country, across Scotland. with your details and when a member of staff is next in the office, they can print and send BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND MANAGEMENT it to you. Directors of the Society are also charity ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS trustees for the purposes of charity law The year was important for three events: and are listed on page 23. The Articles of the Covid-19 pandemic – which dominated Association provide that any director who has all activity from March onwards – our 175th At 10.30am, prior to the formal business, John Home Robertson held office for a period of three years since anniversary and the installation of a new will speak on “Rev A E Robertson, 1870-1958; the first Munro their last appointment shall retire from office computer system. ‘Compleater’; a director of the Scottish Rights of Way Society and may seek re-appointment. Directors may Members who were personally affected by from 1923; and the man who “knew too much” about Highland not seek re-appointment if they have held the pandemic are in our thoughts as we hope rights of way. office for a continuous period of nine years. for a resolution to this dreadful disease. The Directors are appointed by the We celebrated our 175th anniversary on John Home Robertson was educated at Ampleforth College members at the annual general meeting and 3rd April 2020. Naturally, celebrations were and West of Scotland Agricultural College. A Berwickshire farmer, the Chair is appointed by the Directors from muted and held on-line. In June, Richard he was Labour MP and MSP for East Lothian until he retired among their number. Muriel Robertson was Barron gave an excellent talk on Zoom in 2007. He is now an active volunteer for Edinburgh Direct Aid, most recently with Syrian Chair until December when she retired from for the National Library of Scotland on refugees in Lebanon, and also an amateur archaeologist and his researches into family the post after three years. The Directors, the history of the Society which attracted history brought to light his connection with the Rev A E Robertson, who was his father’s who appointed John Elliot as her successor, 380 viewers (several times the number uncle. are very grateful for Muriel’s wise leadership who could have attended it in person). which guided the Society through significant Unfortunately, our Anniversary Walks 2 The Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society Annual Report 2020 3 be reprinted to meet demand before a new seek his advice: we fully intend to do so. Directors’ report (continued) version is produced. Routes will require surveys and the guide may be reformatted OUTDOOR PROJECTS programme was cancelled, but in July, we website. As lockdown gradually eases, we are as well as published in electronic form. It is SMALL GRANTS launched our “virtual challenge” which updating our website to amplify the message expected to be ready (at the earliest) in 2022. This scheme, for which a designated amount asked participants to replicate, in their about access rights and responsibilities. The task of verifying data for this publication of £10,000 was set aside in 2018, has made own way, the 126 miles of the historic walk ACCESS QUERIES DURING LOCKDOWN feeds into a further initiative of the Society in 4 grants to a total of £4,091. The Society installing the first signposts along rights In common with reports from access officers, checking path data more widely. welcomes applications for relevant projects. of way in the Cairngorms in July 1885. access queries from the general public MEDIATION BRIDGES Throughout the year historical facts about increased during lockdown – some related ScotWays has continued to investigate the The Carnach bridge, Knoydart, was completed the Society, outdoor access in Scotland and specifically to Covid-19 restrictions, but by no use of mediation to resolve access disputes. and opened in August 2019. If the pandemic the personalities involved have appeared on means all. Our responses pointed to specific As part of the National Access Forum’s and conditions permit, we hope to see works social and traditional media. guidance, provided contact details for the working group, ScotWays has helped produce on the Eidart bridge on the Glen Feshie drove Other activities continued as usual but to access authorities and noted the usefulness a Guidance Note to promote its use. road and Bedford Memorial Bridge over the a restricted extent after the office closure of reporting issues in relation to our work. TRAINING river Tarff, in Glen Tilt, start in 2021. in March due to the pandemic. The Society ScotWays worked with Ramblers Scotland VERIFYING RIGHTS OF WAY is consulted by a wide range of individuals IT SYSTEMS AND MODERNISATION in hosting an access workshop for Local AND OTHER ROUTES and organisations about public access. IT SYSTEMS Access Forum representatives in September The Society provides support to local groups This includes legal searches checking the The Society moved the Catalogue of Rights 2019. This successful event was attended to protect paths they believe to be rights existence of rights of way but such enquiries of Way onto a new software platform by more than 50 people. A signpost training of way. It does so in consultation with the dropped off sharply after lockdown. From through the last months of 2019 and early day in April 2020, in conjunction with Paths relevant Council and it assists these groups March onwards, however, enquiries from 2020 at a cost of £55,000. This huge for All, had to be postponed. in information gathering. For example, we members of the public almost doubled as project, ably led by Richard Barron, has OTHER POLICY AND assisted an investigation of potential right the value of outdoor access came to be proved vital during the pandemic. It allows AWARENESS EVENTS of way status by Dirleton Village Association more widely appreciated. on-line access to both maps and text The Society is represented on the National in relation to a popular circular walk from One positive result of this activity is records, enabling staff to work from home. Access Forum and is a keen participant in the village which also linked with the John the increasing numbers of people joining Substantial work is still being undertaken to the Scottish Outdoor Recreation Alliance Muir Way. In another case, we supported as members. Increased membership is create a fully accessible portal and to verify and the Scottish Outdoor Access Network. local and Council efforts to investigate the important to the Society’s future, increasing all the data transferred to the new system. ScotWays believes in co-operation with other right of way along the 12km Acharacle Drove our heft in upholding access as well as DIGITISATION bodies with similar concerns in order to Road in Ardnamurchan, as part of efforts to fortifying our finances.