I had a day off today, and with a good forecast, decided to press on with my second round of the munros, (not that I'm counting or anything! ;) I headed to Glen Lyon, intent on the group of four from Invervar. I knew that there have always been access issues with one estate in particular, the Chesthill Estate, so I rang them to check on stalking etc. I got an answerphone, so left a message for them to contact me. Nothing. How can we 'respect' the estates and obey their wishes if they won't respond to the numbers they provide?
Undeterred, I went up this morning, as they say on their website that they will post notices about their activities. My particular question was that their 'prohibited season' runs until the 20th October, today, and I was keen to know if that included today. I was under no illusion when I arrived at Invervar - There were notices everywhere, 'walk elsewhere' it said, literally! It is also not at all clear when you are 'allowed' to walk there, a fact I am sure that is deliberate. They do not want walkers at all, and only just disguise this in their wording, where 'Hill walking affects all wildlife, which is the heart of this estate's convservation and wildlife management business. The disturbance is over a relatively small area, the core area of the esate, creating great pressure on the deer herd and birdlife and is becoming unacceptable as responsible'.
Why can we walk on any other estate in Scotland 'responsibly', and indeed by sticking to the ridge lines and routes stipulated by the estates, how much more 'responsible' can we be?
Anyway, I wasn't prepared to put myself at odds with the estate, so went further West, on the Megganie Estate land, where I walked Stuchd an Lochain after chatting to a couple of their keepers - 'No problem' they said, 'just stick to the path'. What a contrast.
The weather was wonderful, and the autumn colours radiant. 3c on the top, but with no wind, felt pleasant in the sunshine. The unusual views of such familiar hills are a real bonus on this group of hills, and I had fun messaging a friend to see if she could decipher my location.
Well, I was up and down leisurely, but if this nice weather continues, I will be back up Glen Lyon next week...........watch this space!
great pressure on the deer herd and birdlife and is becoming unacceptable as responsible
Undeterred, I went up this morning, as they say on their website that they will post notices about their activities. My particular question was that their 'prohibited season' runs until the 20th October, today, and I was keen to know if that included today. I was under no illusion when I arrived at Invervar - There were notices everywhere, 'walk elsewhere' it said, literally! It is also not at all clear when you are 'allowed' to walk there, a fact I am sure that is deliberate. They do not want walkers at all, and only just disguise this in their wording, where 'Hill walking affects all wildlife, which is the heart of this estate's convservation and wildlife management business. The disturbance is over a relatively small area, the core area of the esate, creating great pressure on the deer herd and birdlife and is becoming unacceptable as responsible'.
Why can we walk on any other estate in Scotland 'responsibly', and indeed by sticking to the ridge lines and routes stipulated by the estates, how much more 'responsible' can we be?
Anyway, I wasn't prepared to put myself at odds with the estate, so went further West, on the Megganie Estate land, where I walked Stuchd an Lochain after chatting to a couple of their keepers - 'No problem' they said, 'just stick to the path'. What a contrast.
The weather was wonderful, and the autumn colours radiant. 3c on the top, but with no wind, felt pleasant in the sunshine. The unusual views of such familiar hills are a real bonus on this group of hills, and I had fun messaging a friend to see if she could decipher my location.
Well, I was up and down leisurely, but if this nice weather continues, I will be back up Glen Lyon next week...........watch this space!
great pressure on the deer herd and birdlife and is becoming unacceptable as responsible