Comhairle nan Eilean Siar | Countryside Access 
 
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Core Paths Planning in the Hebrides



 

 

 

 

Countryside Access

Welcome to the Countryside Access pages of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Countryside Access is part of the Sustainable Communities Department. This site provides an introduction to the Comhairle’s approach to countryside access in the Western Isles. We also provide an introduction to current access legislation and links to sources of further information.

The Western Isles has a great variety of habitats, from long windblown storm beaches through herb-rich ‘machair’ land where wild flowers abound in summer, onto wild moor-land and rugged mountains where hen harriers and golden eagles fly. The islands also have a long history of human habitation, dating back to at least the Neolithic period, and the area is rich in archaeological remains.

The best way to achieve a mutually agreed network of paths to allow people to enjoy the islands is to work in partnership with landowners, crofters and users of access to facilitate as far as possible agreement on the best routes in any given situation. This process is assisted by the Local Access Forum for the Western Isles, composed of representatives from a wide range of backgrounds (e.g. crofters, landowners, user groups, health professionals etc.).

The primary legislation governing access to the countryside in Scotland is the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.

The post of Countryside Access Manager (based in the Benbecula office) was established in April 2004 with assistance from Scottish Natural Heritage. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar was recently successful in obtaining European funding through the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme for developing the footpath network with a project called the Western Isles Countryside Access Programme. The WICAP project has its own Project Officer based in Stornoway.

If you are seeking specific information about where to walk in the Western Isles, please visit WalkHebrides.com.

If you have any queries regarding countryside access in the Western Isles, please contact us.

 

 


 

 

 
   
Ag Obair Còmhla Airson Nan Eilean - Working Together For The Western Isles