Public Use of Paths: Management

Public use of paths can have a number of impacts or conflicts (Paths for All, n.d.):

• Differing awareness or understanding of access rights and safe shared use - i.e. lack of knowledge of Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC)
• Differences in user expectations/preferences - users wanting solitude vs social interaction, softer and more natural path vs a harder manmade path
• Personal safety/comfort - concern over collisions (e.g. walkers vs bikes), unwanted interactions (e.g. uncontrolled dogs)
• Environmental damage - coastal erosion of paths and vegetation, littering, dog fouling
• Anti-social behaviour - vandalism, illegal use of paths by motorbikes

So, how are these impacts and conflicts managed?

Scottish Outdoor Access Code:
The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 established statutory access rights, and these rights must be exercised responsibly. SOAC sets out guidance on public access rights and responsibilities (fig. 1) (Outdoor Access Scotland, 2024b). For example: 

• All dog waste must be picked up and removed from public open spaces
• Cyclists must not endanger walkers or horse riders - they must give users advance warning of their presence and give way on narrow paths
• Users must not intentionally or recklessly disturb or destroy plants, birds and other animals, or geological features 

Campaigns such as #KnowtheCode spreads awareness and understanding of public paths and how they are responsibly accessed.

Ranger Services:
Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils have a Ranger Service which provides advice to users, communities, and land managers on access rights and responsibilities. Rangers provide community engagement and education on Scotland's natural and cultural heritage, supporting sustainable use and management of the outdoors (Aberdeenshire Council, n.d. b).

Core Path Network and Local Access Forums:
Local authorities have the responsibility to designate core path networks under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016, but there is no statutory duty to maintain or signpost them. Maintenance of paths and signage is typically a joint effort between local authorities, land-owners, and the public.

 Local Access Forums are designed to bring together different stakeholders to 'consistently and fairly implement' the Land Reform (Scotland) Act. They can advise councils on outdoor access issues and assist in resolving outdoor access disputes. Along the East Grampian Coast there is an Aberdeen Outdoor Access Forum and an Aberdeenshire Local Outdoor Access Forum (Outdoor Access Scotland, 2024a).