Cairngorms National Park Authority Draft Outdoor Access Strategy Cairngorms National Park Outdoor Access Strategy 2007 - 2012 Final Draft October 2006 1 Cairngorms National Park Authority Draft Outdoor Access Strategy CONTENTS CONTENTS ............................................................................................ 2 1 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................. 5 Overview ...........................................................................................................5 2 SCENE SETTING ............................................................................ 8 Strategic Context .................................................................................. 8 The National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 ............................................................8 The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003...............................................................8 National Park Plan .............................................................................................9 Development Planning and the Local Plan.........................................................9 Cairngorms National Park Strategies .................................................................9 Other Strategies ...............................................................................................10 Statutory Duties of the National Park Authority ..........................................10 Publicising the Scottish Outdoor Access Code ................................................11 Upholding Access Rights .................................................................................11 Cairngorms Local Outdoor Access Forum .......................................................11 Core Paths Planning ........................................................................................11 Methodology...................................................................................................12 Starting the Process.........................................................................................13 Outdoor Access Audit ......................................................................................13 Key Issues and Main Workshop.......................................................................13 Strategic Environmental Assessment...............................................................14 Consultation .....................................................................................................14 3 VISION, STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES .............. 15 Introduction ....................................................................................................15 Vision ..............................................................................................................15 1. Vision ............................................................................................... 15 Understanding and Enjoying the Park .........................................................16 Outdoor Access and Recreation ......................................................................17 Strategic Objectives for Outdoor Access and Recreation.................................18 Five year Outcomes .......................................................................................19 4 ACTION THEMES AND POLICIES............................................... 20 Introduction ....................................................................................................20 Action Theme 1: Improving path provision and quality..............................20 Core paths, lowland and upland path repair, maintenance and development..20 Provision for people of all abilities and multi-use paths....................................22 Provision for cycling, horse riding and water borne craft..................................24 2 Cairngorms National Park Authority Draft Outdoor Access Strategy Action Theme 2: Promoting responsible outdoor access and management ...................................................................................................25 Increasing understanding of rights and responsibilities....................................25 Organised outdoor access events....................................................................27 Managing recreational impacts at popular countryside sites............................29 Car parking charges.........................................................................................30 Action Theme 3: Promoting visitor information about outdoor access opportunities .....................................................................................32 Developing appropriate visitor information about outdoor access opportunities.....................................................................................................32 Providing appropriate way-marking..................................................................34 Action Theme 4: Promoting sustainable transport for enjoyment of the Park....................................................................................35 Improving public transport links........................................................................35 Safer cycling opportunities ...............................................................................37 Action Theme 5: Promoting healthy lifestyles.............................................38 5 ACTION MECHANISMS................................................................ 41 Introduction ....................................................................................................41 Cairngorms National Park Authority Staff ...................................................41 Cairngorms Local Outdoor Access Forum ..................................................41 Ranger Services .............................................................................................42 Delivery mechanism for path repair, maintenance and improvement programmes ............................................................................43 Other mechanisms for delivering the Strategy............................................45 Other stakeholders ........................................................................................45 6 ACTION AREAS............................................................................ 47 Introduction ....................................................................................................47 Action Area A: The Central Cairngorms.......................................................48 Description .......................................................................................................48 Key outdoor access issues...............................................................................49 Priorities ...........................................................................................................50 Action Area B: The Eastern Cairngorms......................................................50 Description .......................................................................................................50 Key outdoor access issues...............................................................................51 Priorities ...........................................................................................................52 Action Area C: Upper Deeside ......................................................................52 Description .......................................................................................................52 Key outdoor access issues...............................................................................53 Priorities ...........................................................................................................54 Action Area D: Upper Donside......................................................................54 Description .......................................................................................................54 Key outdoor access issues...............................................................................55 Priorities ...........................................................................................................55 3 Cairngorms National Park Authority Draft Outdoor Access Strategy Action Area E: Glenlivet and Tomintoul.......................................................56 Description .......................................................................................................56 Key outdoor access issues...............................................................................56 Priorities ...........................................................................................................57 Action Area F: Lower Badenoch & Strathspey............................................57 Description .......................................................................................................57 Key outdoor access issues...............................................................................58 Priorities ...........................................................................................................59 Action Area G: Upper Badenoch & Strathspey ...........................................59 Description .......................................................................................................59 Key outdoor access issues...............................................................................60 Priorities ...........................................................................................................61