Scottish Natural Heritage marks creation of 100 miles of new or improved paths

The paths will be created in Scotland in a bid to boost access for the public.

More than 100 miles of new and improved paths will be created in Scotland in a bid to boost access for the public.

By the end of the year, routes the equivalent of the length of the West Highland Way will have been established under the Improving Public Access scheme.

Scottish Natural Heritage, the Holyrood government’s advisory body on the outdoors, said the paths will make it easier for people to enjoy the countryside with opportunities for walkers, wheelchair users, cyclists, horse riders and buggy users.

The new and improved paths will connect towns and villages and provide a variety of ways to explore the outdoors in coastal areas, along riverbanks, to viewpoints and around farmland.

Some of the paths will also form part of longer distance routes such as the John Muir Way.

Since opening in 2015 to farmers, local authorities, charities and community groups, a wide range of projects has benefited from funding as part of the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme to improve existing paths or create new ones.

SNH chief executive Francesca Osowska said: “Scotland’s stunning countryside is one of our greatest assets, both for residents and visitors.

“We know that more people than ever before are visiting the outdoors on a regular basis which is great news given the many benefits for physical and mental health of getting outside.

“Good quality and well signposted paths can make it easier for more people to enjoy our great outdoors so with summer ahead it’s fantastic to be able to celebrate the success of this scheme in delivering so many quality routes across the country.”