Scottish Outdoor Access Festival - SNH Press Release

Get out and about in Argyll with the Scottish Outdoor Access Festival

Summer visitors and locals are being encouraged to take to the outdoors in
Argyll next month for the Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Scottish Outdoor
Access Festival.

The festival, which runs from 1-22 July, gives people the chance to learn new
skills, see new sights and try new activities. With 19 events at locations
across Scotland, from Ayrshire to Caithness and Oban to Dunbar, activities on
offer include canoeing down the Union Canal and a children’s climate change
quest in the forest.

In Argyll, two special guided walks for families are taking place. On Sunday 5
July a fun walk with a ‘leave no trace’ theme is taking place around the
popular Sutherlands Grove forest, north of Oban. Running from 2 - 4.30pm the
walk will explore the woodland and discuss ways to keep it looking beautiful,
with the chance to learn about the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. Places are
limited so booking is essential - contact John Ormiston by email at
john@stramash.eu or ring 01631 720412, mobile 07833 103020.

On Sunday 12 July learn more about keeping special places special with a gentle
walk through woodlands and along the lochside near Cairnbaan, Lochgilphead. The
walk will run from 12 - 4pm. Again places are limited, so booking is essential -
contact Eilid Ormiston by email at eilid@stramash.eu or ring 01631 572194,
mobile 07825 100250.

Increased participation in outdoor activities and the rise in people camping
and holidaying at home will place even greater demands on the countryside this
year. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code advises how we can take responsibility
for managing the impact we make when outdoors. SNH has worked with the Institute
of Outdoor Learning to train instructors and develop events for the festival, to
highlight the ‘leave no trace’ approach and rights and responsibilities
within the Access Code.

Kirstin Guthrie of SNH, the festival coordinator, said: “This year’s theme
‘leave no trace’, is all about people adopting smart, simple principles and
techniques such as leaving no litter, using stoves rather than fires to cook and
proper disposal of human waste. We can all do our bit for nature and for each
other’s enjoyment when we visit Scotland’s wonderful woodlands, mountains
and moorlands as well as our beaches, rivers and lochs.”

The festival programme is available online at www.outdooraccess-scotland.com
and free copies are being distributed through retail outlets, libraries, ranger
bases, hostels and outdoor education providers.