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Lord
Cockburn, the famous Edinburgh impresario was a frequent visitor to
the Pentlands, he wrote in 1825 that 'there is not a recess in their
valleys, nor an eminence on their summits, that is not familiar to my
solitude. One summer I read every word of Tacitus in the sheltered crevice
of a rock (called `My Seat ') about 800 feet above the level of the
sea, with the most magnificent of scenes stretched out before me.' Indeed,
during the mid 1930s and 1940s train loads of people would arrive, especially
at weekends, disgorge at Balerno station for a day's hillwalking in
the Pentlands, to return on the last train back to Edinburgh. Many rights of way are found throughout the Pentlands confirming traditional access to the hills. The Pentlands have long been a place of quiet countryside recreation with co-operation and support from the farming community. Indeed the Regional Park was designated to address the challenge of integrating and managing all land uses. In recent years, the range of recreational pursuits has increased. Activities are as diverse as mountain biking, hill running, fishing and paragliding. The 1992 Survey of Visitor Use in the Regional Park put the adjusted visitation figure (subtracting visits to Hillend Ski Centre) at 674,110. This figure was more or less confirmed in the 1999 System 3 Survey. A further visitor survey is planned to further gauge the range, location and numbers of visitors around the park. The challenge of integrated countryside management is, that its processes, systems and solutions are in constant need of adjustment and refinement, as they respond to an external and internal influences. Farming and land management itself is undergoing major changes. Varying recreational pursuits, with their associated impacts, as well as administrative and political changes are ever present. In addition, all reliable predictions intimate that the population of Edinburgh and the Lothians is set to continue to rise. Currently the population of Edinburgh is 448,850 with 767,800 in the rest of the Lothians. Forecasts indicate that the Lothians will see the biggest population growth in Scotland with an increase of 50,000 from 2001 to 2015. A significant proportion (37%) of this rise is accounted for by single households and a substantial percentage (43%) of residents over 45 years of age. These particular demographics are usually associated with larger disposable incomes, which itself generates a higher demand for quality goods, services and travel. The 1999 visitor survey of the Regional Park identified such groups as significant current park users, and therefore any population growth seen in Edinburgh and the Lothian's will translate into demand for the specialist services delivered by the Pentland Ranger Team. The
diversity and accessibility of the Pentlands is their greatest asset,
yet too, their greatest management challenge. The Regional Park, working
with its partners, with support from farmers, landowners, local communities
and the public who recreate here seek to rise to that challenge. To
find out more about Responsible access in the Countryside go to Walking Hill
Running Horse
Riding Biking Fishing |
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