Ramblers Scotland is campaigning for walkers’ right to enjoy four popular Munros in Glen Lyon, one of Scotland's most beautiful glens.

 

Sadly, there have been decades of complaints about the North Chesthill Estate deterring walkers, particularly from the hills north of Invervar, Perthshire. 

As popular website Walkhighlands states, “A long history of access issues and problems - both in and out of the stag stalking season - have given these Munros the reputation of being the least friendly in Scotland for hillwalkers.” 

Many issues arise during stag stalking season, from about mid-August to late October. 

But North Chesthill Estate also issues bizarre advice at other times.  

This includes telling hillwalkers to stick to ridges from May-July, plus year-round requests to walk the ‘recognised route’, only in a clockwise direction, and to be down from the hill by 7pm.  

2025 problems 

In 2025, matters escalated when the estate sparked a social media backlash, national headlines and discussion at the Scottish Parliament, by installing “No walking, we are stalking” signs. These effectively sought to ban access for all of September and October. 

The Scottish Outdoor Access Code recognises some routes may need managed for stalking on specific days. But it does not allow unreasonable blanket bans like this. 

We also saw reports of walkers being challenged on the ground, simply for trying to responsibly walk at the estate. 

And to make matters worse, the estate’s online advice claimed: “With the support of the authorities from September through November…hill walking is discouraged on the hills north of Invervar… such sensibly reduced access is being encouraged by P&K Council and by NatureScot.” 

 

Working with stalking estates 

Ramblers Scotland enjoys a positive relationship with most land managers, as do individual walkers using NatureScot’s Heading for the Scottish Hills service to minimise conflict with stalking. 

We always encourage people to respect reasonable requests relating to specific routes or areas on particular days, when stalking is taking place. 

However, we are aware of no other estate in Scotland trying to impose such unusual access restrictions - or blanket access bans lasting months, over such large areas.  

North Chesthill’s approach is unacceptable and doesn’t comply with the Code.

 

Taking action 

Ramblers Scotland is working right now to find solutions that achieve lasting improvements at Glen Lyon, including: 

• Representations to Perth & Kinross Council and NatureScot, who have both confirmed the estate’s advice misrepresented their views. They have agreed to act 

• A formal request to the council to use its legal powers to ensure the landowner follows the law and the Code 

• Encouraging walkers to report any incidents to scotland@ramblers.org.uk and Perth & Kinross Council’s access staff. 

At a national level, we successfully campaigned to amend Scotland’s new Land Reform Bill, lowering the threshold for estates required to produce Land Management Plans from 3,000 to 1,000 hectares. This means North Chesthill (2,600 ha) will in in future be required to consult on, and publish, a plan showing how it facilitates public access. 

 

Thanks for your support 

We’re hugely grateful to the hundreds of supporters who have reported issues, engaged with our social media, or contacted journalists and local politicians.  

Please continue to let us and Perth and Kinross Council know of any issues faced when walking these beautiful hills. 

Despite the years of issues, we do think we can get progress – particularly if we can work with access authorities to better enforce the law.  

The vast majority of estates respect Scotland’s world-class outdoor access rights.  So should North Chesthill.