It’s been 20 years since the Land Reform Act created a duty on Local Authorities to create a network of Core paths. Since then 21,000 kilometers of Core paths have been designated after extensive consultation and collaboration but these are still not on OS maps.
We are calling on Ordnance Survey to put these paths on the map. They were selected as the most important local paths for people to access countryside from their homes in cities, towns, and villages and are vital for health and recreation.
Most people do not know this incredible network of paths exist, and they are underused as a consequence. The Ordnance Survey would not think of omitting to put a road on a map, so the core paths should be on our maps, just as 224,000 kilometers of public footpaths are, in England and Wales.
Find out more about Core Paths
The Petition:
To: Nick Bolton, Chief Executive, Ordnance Survey
Dear Nick Bolton,
We are calling on you to put Scotland’s Core Paths on the Ordnance Survey maps.
The Core Path network consists of 21,000kms of paths selected as the most important local paths for people to access countryside from their homes in cities, towns, and villages and are vital for health and recreation.
Twenty years after the land Reform Act, and ten after the completion of the exhaustive consultation process to create the network, those paths are still not on our maps.
The Ordnance Survey would not think of omitting to put a road on a map, so the core paths should be on our maps, just as 224,000 kilometers of public footpaths are, in England and Wales.
Yours,
[names of the petitioners]
.More on Core Paths
Core path came about as part of the Land Reform Act 2003.
The guidance, drawn up for Local Authorities, following the Act says: “Every local authority in Scotland is required … to draw up a plan for a system of paths (core paths) sufficient for the purposes of giving the public reasonable access throughout their area.”
Core Paths are intended to give a meaningful but manageable network that would link people to their local countryside, so everyone has access to paths close to their homes. The local authority has the powers to maintain a core path but not a duty to do so.
Paths were consulted on in local communities, chosen from paths that locals used and in discussions with landowners. It took ten years for the core paths to be finalised but we now have a network of 21,000kms of core paths. However it is very hard to find out where they are as they are not marked on the maps most people use for walking.
The Core paths are recorded on the Scottish Government Spatial Hub and on the Nature Scot website. Certain local authorities have websites with their core paths marked on, for example: Perth and Kinross, Renfrewshire
However none of these sources integrate with mapping apps and software and they also are not on the definitive maps made by the Ordnance Survey.
About the OS (Ordnance Survey)
Ordnance Survey (OS) is the national mapping agency for the UK. They are responsible for the official surveying of the country, “providing the most accurate and up-to-date geographic data, relied on by government, business and individuals” (from UK Government website)
We believe that the time is right for OS to put Scotland’s core paths onto the map. Their purpose and mission show that providing access for people using accurate and up to date mapping is at the core of what they do. And having a third of the land area of the UK without local paths on the map, is a large omission that could be easily remedied as all the work has been done in agreeing and mapping the paths.
The OS website lays out their mission, purpose and values, which say “We help the world See a Better Place, because when you know a place better than anyone, you can make it better for everyone”.
OS says their work “inspires everyone to get outside to maintain physical and mental well-being” and we believe that, for a UK-wide Government agency, this needs to include Scotland.
In this video from their website Nick Giles, Managing Director, Consumer Ordnance Survey says:
“OS maps is all about helping people to get outside. It’s not about so much the map but what the map gives you. the ability to actually connect with nature which is great for your mind”
Nicole Frith – OS Map Data Specialist says:
“We bring together routes from all our different partners, and that means that people can find a local route to them…. We’ve been mapping Britain for over 200 years and that means with OS app you have a map you can trust and can be your companion when you go outside.”
Blog posts on Core Paths
In this 15th section of her green belts walk, Kat tries to navigate via Core Paths and learns that, 20 years since the Land reform Act brought about a commitment to a Core Path Network, we are still very far from that ideal.
This route is day 15 of Kat’s circumnavigation of the Greater Glasgow Green Belt. Helen Todd of Ramblers Scotland joins in to chat about Access and campaigns and they have an encounter with a herd of Spanish Fighting Bulls.
Kat joins two stalwarts of Scotland’s right to roam campaign, Nick Kempe and Bob Reid, on this section of her Green Belts walk where they find their way along the escarpment of the Kilpatrick Hills.
The Improvement service already collaborate over data with OS. They could easily add core paths