You can walk there, but should you?

A four-wheel-drive vehicle with an empty trailer beside a Highland road can make me reconsider where I take guests walking. Perhaps somebody has unloaded an Argo, a small off-road vehicle, and headed onto the hill to stalk deer. The vehicle does not prove that, but it gives me something to think about before announcing, “Right, follow me.” Guests see an inviting hillside, while I am wondering who might be working beyond our view. Scotland’s access rights may allow us to walk there, but just because we can do something does not mean that we should.

Deer stalking is a particularly good example because the people doing it are deliberately difficult to see. We might cross the ground without noticing them, yet move the deer away from an approach that has taken considerable time and patience. Our afternoon’s entertainment has then become somebody else’s frustration. I guide here regularly, and I want the people working in the Highlands to regard our visits as considerate. If there are signs of stalking, I would rather find out what is happening or choose another walk than carry on simply because I have a right to cross the land. Reasonable local advice can help us avoid getting in the way.

Cattle make the need for judgement more visible. There may be something beyond a field that I would love to show guests, but the animals deserve attention before we enter. Cows with calves require particular caution, and cattle without calves are not a guarantee of an uneventful crossing. A dog can make the situation more complicated, and should not be taken into fields containing young livestock. Often, a suitable alternative route is a better choice than insisting on the shortest way. The viewpoint will not be improved by upsetting the animals, alarming the guests or creating a problem for the person looking after the herd. This is about recognising that our holiday takes place in a landscape where other people earn their living.

Land managers have responsibilities towards access too, including helping visitors understand what is happening and respecting their legitimate rights. Consideration works in both directions. For my part, a little observation and a willingness to change plans usually serve us better than an argument about entitlement. We can enjoy Scotland’s remarkable freedom while noticing when exercising it in a particular way would cause trouble.

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