Scottish Outdoor Access Code and Guidelines
When visiting Whitelee we ask that you follow some simple guidelines to ensure your trip is an enjoyable as possible.
Did you know that Part One of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 gives everyone statutory access rights to most land and inland water in Scotland? These rights must be exercised responsibly by respecting people’s privacy, safety and livelihoods, and Scotland’s environment.
The Scottish Outdoor Access Code provides detailed guidance on the responsibilities of those exercising their access rights, and of those managing land and water over which these rights may be exercised. The Code is based on three key principles and these apply equally to the public and to land managers:
- Respect the interests of other people
- Care for the environment
- Take responsibility for your own actions
All visitors are asked to observe the following guidance:
- Be considerate and aware
- Take responsibility for your own actions and act safely
- Respect people’s privacy and peace of mind
- Care for your environment, take your litter home and don’t disturb wildlife
- Do not light open fires
- Do not disrupt on-going land management operations and leave all gates as you find them
- Pay attention to any temporary restrictions or diversions indicated
More information on Scottish Outdoor Access Code guidance is available here
Land and Weather
Agriculture and forestry continue to be major land uses across the Whitelee area.
For the safety of visitors diversions will occasionally be necessary within the windfarm and forest areas in particular. Such operations include wind turbine maintenance, forest harvesting and the construction of forest roads or recreational paths. Every effort will be made to notify visitors in advance of such works taking place.
Extensive areas of moorland and blanket bog are present within the windfarm, and work to improve biodiversity and restore natural habitat types has been integral to the windfarm development. Whitelee is already home to a number ofimportant wildlife species including the merlin, Britain’s smallest bird of prey, and the black grouse. On-going habitat management work aims to increase the incidence of these and other flora and fauna within the windfarm area.
Whitelee is a large and in many cases exposed area in which weather conditions can change quickly. Visitors should be properly prepared and plan their route and activities
carefully.
Within the windfarm and surrounding forest, the construction of forest roads, timber harvesting and the development of new recreational paths will continue to take place in some areas. Borrow pits, from which materials are extracted for road construction, will remain active in some areas of the site. Visitors are asked to observe any warning signage associated with these activities, and follow any exclusions or temporary diversions that are in place.
Whilst routes within the windfarm are largely traffic-free, authorised vehicles involved with site management operations will continue to use the windfarm and forest road network. A strict speed limit is in place, but visitors should remain alert to such vehicles using the site. Statutory access rights do not extend to motor vehicles, including quad bikes and motor bikes, which are prohibited from using the windfarm, forest roads or recreational paths.
Whilst statutory access rights are not limited to the use of formal or surfaced routes and visitors should be aware that ground conditions vary widely at Whitelee. Large areas of very wet or soft ground are present. Open ditches and drainage channels are common, many of which are hidden by vegetation. Visitors are asked to be aware of these hazards if venturing off surfaced routes. Equestrian users in particular should be aware of the presence of soft ground and hidden ditches.
The following points are particularly important when entering the windfarm site:
FIRE - Prevent the creation or spread of fire. Never light an open fire within the windfarm, in forests or woodland areas, farmland, on peaty ground or near buildings. Please dispose of cigarettes carefully.
SNOW & ICE - Under certain conditions snow and ice can accumulate on turbine blades and be thrown a considerable distance as these rotate. Visitors are asked to keep as much distance as possible from wind turbines under these conditions, and to avoid entering the windfarm in periods of heavy snowfall.
LIGHTNING - Under lighting conditions visitors are asked to keep a safe distance from the wind turbines and leave the site as quickly as possible. Never shelter close to a turbine under such conditions.
