SHARED USE CASE STUDIES
PROMOTING PREFERRED PATHS: John Muir Country Park
Under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, access rights apply to all responsible
non-motorised users and apply to most land, including most paths. The single most
effective way of managing access is to encourage and direct people where you are
happy for them to go, rather than trying to stop them accessing paths or areas
sensitive to disturbance or damage. Belhaven Bay, which is part of the John Muir
Country Park, is a very good example of positive management along these lines.
Belhaven Bay is a glorious long, sandy beach which stretches from Belhaven, on the west
side of Dunbar in East Lothian, to the north of the mouth of the River Tyne. The beach is
fringed by sand dunes, salt marsh and colourful grassland, with pine forests immediately
behind. Within easy reach of Edinburgh and Scotland’s central belt, the clean water,
sparkling sand, woodland paths, good facilities and endless opportunities for enjoying the
outdoors act as a magnet to walkers, cyclists, horse riders, surfers and many others keen to
enjoy a picnic or a bit of time out.
Belhaven Bay is also a haven for wildlife. The combination of
salt and fresh water, marsh and merse support a very varied
flora and fauna, some sensitive to disturbance.
The
saltmarshes which are exposed at low tide are particularly
fragile. In the past there have been some problems with a
few horse riders behaving irresponsibly by galloping across
the saltmarshes, damaging the vegetation and disturbing
others trying to enjoy this peaceful place. Local bye-laws
enable the access authority to exclude horses if they so
choose. Instead they took the more positive step of setting up
Belhaven Bay Users Group, a voluntary group who respect
the natural beauty of the area and everyone’s right to enjoy it.
In conjunction with East Lothian Council, Belhaven Bay Users
Group came up with a better way of managing access.
In keeping with the Land Reform Act, there are no physical restrictions on public access to
the Country Park. Instead, map boards at key entry points clearly show recommended
routes for walkers, and recommended routes for riders (purple dotted lines on picture
adjacent). Some of the routes
coincide, for example the broad
dry tracks through Hedderwick
Plantation where there is ample
space for dog walkers, cyclists,
horse riders, families with young
children and everyone else to
enjoy themselves and pass each
other safely without interfering with
anyone else’s enjoyment.
Recognising that many horse
riders box to Belhaven Bay
specifically to exercise their horses
on the beach, a longer ride is also
promoted. There is nothing to
stop people other than riders using
this route, but identification as a riding route alerts everyone to the fact that they may well
meet horses on this route.
A voluntary scheme has been set up whereby riders are invited to register, for free, by
simply submitting their contact details and vehicle registration number. In return they are
given a voluntary permit together with pocket-sized weatherproof map indicating the
promoted riding routes. On the reverse of the map are useful contact details for tide time
information, and contact numbers of the countryside ranger service, coastguard, SEPA and
SSPCA (in case of stranded marine animals). The permit also includes a space for riders to
add their own emergency contact and medical details.
As well as providing a database of contact details which the access authority can use to
notify temporary route closures, the voluntary permit system is also valuable as a
management tool in logging vehicle registration details. When problems have arisen since
introduction of the permit scheme, East Lothian Council has been able to identify and
contact the relevant riders through checking the registration number of horse boxes or
trailers using the car park at that time.
Local and visiting horse riders are very pleased with how the system works, and welcome
the initiative to maintain open access by targeting individuals who behave irresponsibly
rather than resort to blanket restrictions. British Horse Society also endorses this very
positive approach.
In parts of Hedderwick
Plantation, on the west
side of Belhaven Bay,
parallel paths allow people
to choose which path they
use, so they have the
option to avoid dogs,
horses or cyclists on the
other path.
Following best practice to adopt
the least restrictive option, wide
gaps have been left alongside
locked gates to control illegal
vehicular
access
without
restricting legitimate users of all
ages and abilities.
Keys to success
 Promoting recommended routes for different types of use is a positive way of
managing sensitive or particularly popular areas, but don’t fall into the trap of
excluding or banning certain types of use from other areas or paths, which is not in
the spirit of the Land Reform Act.
 Map and information boards need to be strategically located at main entry points, in a
position and at a height which makes it easy for everyone to read (including horse
riders).
 Clear, consistent waymarking will help people follow the recommended routes.
 Consultation with users and involving riders in managing access helps ensure that
everyone’s needs are taken into account and encourages a sense of ownership
which can help minimise irresponsible behaviour.
VWG
1.3.16