Perth and Kinross: Land access issues & a few resources for walking and hiking.

Screenshot of Perth and Kinross council's core paths online interactive map 

The issues I, as a walker, encounter often on countryside core paths in my area are nothing so rarefied as the grouse moors mentioned in the last post although I regularly encounter shooting or the results of it, on estates and around farms - often closer than I'd like.  More commonly the issues are: 

- the mapped path doesn't exist 

- locked gates

 - paths blocked by fences

 - access is difficult (e.g. only over a cattle grid, when you have a dog; ladders to climb, high or broken stiles etc)

 - signs saying no public access  / no right of way / private garden (when it isn't)

- missing bridges

These issues are more likely and more widespread on paths that are not designated "core".  

To a lesser extent I find signage or waymarking that is missing or confusing.  In my area green signposts indicate core paths and small waymarking arrows on posts indicate various colour-coded trails.  That said the region of Perth and Kinross is very large and on balance I am impressed  with the availability and quality of signage.

When planning walks, the resource I probably use most often is the Perth and Kinross core paths plan, including a clickable map.  An interactive map of national core paths is hosted by Scottish Natural Heritage.  On the ground, I use A4 printed versions of the same map (less unwieldy than a foldable map) and for convenience, I also have a subscription with the online OS maps app though unfortunately, these do not yet show core paths. 

When exploring more well-known walks, I most often use the well-known walkhighlands website and the Perth and Kinross Countryside walks leaflets by area online and their lists of seasonal walks for autumn, winter, spring and summer.  

There is scope for another post sometime on the many other walk resources.