Hillwalkers were invited to turn detectives to help fight “environmental vandalism” which is destroying the country’s ancient landscapes.
The evidence they gathered is being used by environmental charities to persuade the Scottish Government to put an end to the unregulated system for hill track construction which enables landowners to build tracks without any public scrutiny.
The group has published a report on the damage caused to landscapes, wildlife and habitats across Scotland by tracks, carved across the landscape for vehicles.
The aim is to persuade the Scottish Government to remove permitted development rights for building such tracks, enabling public scrutiny of all proposed track construction.
Helen Todd of Ramblers Scotland and co-convener of the campaign group Scottish Environment LINK said: “We asked Scottish hillwalkers to send us photos of tracks which have damaged our countryside.
“The report gives compelling photographic evidence of the degradationbeing caused by this planning-free-for-all.
“In some cases it amounts to nothing short of environmental vandalism.”
