Landowner loses bid to ban ramblers
24 Apr 08
Sheriff rules 15 acres out of 70 enough to maintain Euan Snowie's family's safety
A Scottish millionaire has lost his attempt to ban ramblers from more than half of his estate.
Euan Snowie took on the Ramblers Association and Stirling Council in Stirling Sheriff Court, arguing that 40 acres of his 70 acre estate at Boquhan House, near Kippen, should be excluded from public access under the right to roam legislation because allowing access to his land would compromise his family's security.
Yesterday, however, Sheriff Andrew Cubie ruled that Mr Snowie's proposed exclusion zone was excessive and that a 15-acre area around the house would be sufficient to maintain the family's privacy and safety.
He ordered that access rights should be maintained on the driveways and wooded parts of the estate and that a locked gate preventing acess to one of the estate's walking routes be opened up.
In his judgment, Sheriff Cubie said that Mr Snowie's evidence was characterised by a reluctance to accept that those wanting access to the estate could be genuine.
Denis Canavan, president of Ramblers Scotland, said the ruling sent out a clear message to other large estate landowners. He added that he was confident acccess could be made to work in this case.
Last year Stagecoach founder Anne Gloag succeeded in excluding the public from 12 acres of her estate at Kinfauns House, Perthshire.