Public Rights of Way
Aberdeenshire Council are statutorily obliged to "assert, protect and keep open and free from obstruction or encroachment any public right of way" (Countryside (Scotland) Act 1967 s.46).
In Scotland, public rights of way (ROWs) may be created by use over a period of time. Conversely they can be lost by non-use. A public right of way can be claimed to exist where the route in question satisfies certain conditions. It must:
- connect two public places
- follow a more or less defined route
- have been used by the public as of right
- have been so used without substantial and effective interruption for at least 20 years
To enable a ROW to be claimed it is necessary to gather evidence of the above conditions; evidence should be gathered on the ROW Questionnaire.
Aberdeenshire Council has details of some ROWs but no fully comprehensive or definitive record exists. The most comprehensive documentation relating to ROWs in Scotland is held by the Scottish Rights of Way Society.
Further advice on ROW can be obtained by contacting the relevant Access Officer;
Email: outdoor.access@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Outdoor Access Officer South (Garioch, Marr and Kincardine and Mearns) Tel: 01467 628396
Outdoor Access Officer North (Formartine, Buchan, banff and Buchan) Tel: 01467 628481
Outdoor Access Officer
Infrastructure Services
Planning and Building Standards
Aberdeenshire Council
Gordon House
Blackhall Road
Inverurie
AB513WA