A NEW bid to challenge the decision to restrict walking access to four popular hikes in Scotland has been launched.
Ramblers Scotland has launched the petition after the Perthshire estate announced it would enforce restrictions for a period of two months on walkers accessing the route to four popular Munros in Glen Lyon.
The North Chesthill Estate, which occupies around 2750 hectares of land north of the River Lyon, initially issued notices of a complete ban last year, saying walkers would not be permitted on the Munro paths from September to October while deer management action was being taken.
In the notice the estate said: "No walking, we are stalking, September to October”.
A similar notice has been issued this year advising people "walk elsewhere" during the two months from September 1. On the estate's website it does not indicate the route will be entirely closed, but access will be restricted and walkers are urged not to use the path.
It reads: "We are very much relying on the public and hillwalkers to act responsibly within the Access Code and guidelines and seek alternative walks during the main stag deer cull period in accordance with SOAC - Section 5 - over this short period September – October annually."
In a notice posted regarding the deer-stalking season, the estate added: "Restrictions to parking and access have been introduced.
"We are closing the car park during September and October to help us manage visitor pressure at that time.
"Please work with us and come back another day. Lots of other places to walk in the interim."
The decision has been criticised by campaigners. Brendan Paddy, the director of Ramblers Scotland, called on people to sign the petition in order to tell the estate that "enough is enough".
"North Chesthill’s blanket 2-month ban unfairly affects local walkers, visitors and tourism businesses.
"After decades of complaints at these fantastic Munros, enough is enough.
“I urge everyone who values Scotland's world-class outdoor access rights to stand up for them, by signing our petition.
"We must send a clear message: that access to nature is a right, not a luxury.”
The path through the estate connects the Munros of Cairn Gorm, Meall Garbh, Meall a' Bharr and Cairn Mairg.
The campaigners point to official guidance from the National Access Forum, a group established by NatureScot to advise on land access rights. The best practice guidance from the forum states that while land owners can issue guidance, and advises walkers respect this, signs "must not be used to deter people from exercising their access rights."
The guidance adds that restrictions, if required for safety reasons, should be kept to a minimum. They should also "apply to the minimum necessary area" and should include "suggested alternative routes of a similar nature".
Ramblers Scotland have said the restriction of the entire route for two months is excessive, comparing it to other estates that restrict access for only a small sub-section of routes for a set number of hours or days to allow for stalking.
Paddy added: “Nothing in Scotland's access laws allow the unilateral closure of an entire estate for two months for deer stalking.
“Other estates across Scotland prove that stalking and responsible public access can go hand-in-hand. So why not North Chesthill?”
In 2025 the local council ordered the estate to remove its signs stating the route was closed, saying any walkers who encountered issues with accessing the route should contact Perth and Kinross Council's outdoor access department on outdooraccess@pkc.gov.uk.
Ramblers Scotland has accused the estate of being "notorious amongst walkers for its attempts to restrict access, with frequent reports of misleading signs, locked gates and obstructive staff," citing a report from Mountaineering Scotland in 2014 that recorded more than 600 accounts of access problems around the Glen Lyon estate.
The North Chesthill Estate has been approached for comment.
