What is a Core Paths Plan?

The preparation of a Core Paths Plan is a statutory duty for the National Park Authority under Sections 17-20 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.

 

The Land Reform Act requires that core paths should provide the basic framework of access routes sufficient for the purposes of providing reasonable access throughout the Park area. This basic framework will also link with, and support, wider networks of other paths. The National Park's proposed core paths have been selected from the network of paths in the Park, and are the essential paths that provide the means by which the public can access the area. You may have contributed to the gathering of this information through earlier consultation and local events.

 

The benefits of establishing core paths are simple in that most people taking access in the outdoors do so by following paths and a network of formally identified routes makes for easier, more enjoyable, access opportunities for everyone. In this way it is hoped that core paths will assist landowners in managing access over their land and will receive resources to help maintain them and in some cases upgrade them.

What is the current position?

The National Park Authority Access team submitted the Draft Core Paths Plan, along with outstanding objections, to the Scottish Government in September 2009 and the four objections were forwarded to the Reporters Unit for local enquiry. The enquiry process was completed in February 2010 with the reporter deciding the Core Paths Plan should remain unchanged.

 

Consequently the National Park Authority received approval from Scottish Ministers and was directed to adopt the Core Paths Plan. The National Park Authority Board adopted the Plan on 23 June 2010.

 

What are Core Paths?

The essential paths that people need to get about their area and enjoy the outdoors. They can include waterways as well as paths and apply to everyone, including walkers, canoeists, horse-riders and cyclists. Most of the proposed core paths already exist and are already being used by the public.

 

 

How were the Core Paths chosen?

Over the last five years the National Park Authority has gathered local knowledge and opinion at community drop-in consultations and our informal consultation during summer 2007. You may have attended one of these events.

 

This initial information was collated to produce a list of paths for assessment using selection criteria. The selection criteria were developed in consultation with the National Park Local Access Forum and using national guidance.

 

The proposed core paths scored above average in at least six of the following criteria:

 

The Draft Core Paths Plan was produced in June 2007 and the informal consultation of that document lasted eight weeks. The responses from that consultation were taken into account, and amendments made where required in the production of the Formal Consultative Draft.

 

Subsequently, a formal consultation was carried out in summer 2008 and objections and representations were worked through until the final Draft Core Paths Plan with four outstanding objections was submitted to Scottish Government in September 2009.

 

The National Park Authority received approval from Scottish Ministers in February 2010 and was directed to adopt the Core Paths Plan. The National Park Authority Board adopted the Plan on 23 June 2010.

 

How can I view the Core Paths Plan?

The individual maps are available to view for free on our website or you can view paper copies of the document at either the Balloch or Callander National Park Authority Offices.

 

Can I buy the Core Paths Plan?

Copies of the Plan cost £10 and are available to buy from our online shop.