Dog walkers asked to lead the way in the Park
Dog walkers asked to lead the way in the Park
Now that the snow of the last few months has thawed, many dog owners will be desperate to get out and about more as the days become longer and paths start to become a bit more accessible again. The Cairngorms National Park is a great place for enjoying the countryside with your dogs and walking a dog is a great way to get regular exercise.
However, dog owners and walkers in the Park are being reminded that spring is an important time of year for farming interests – sheep and lambs can be injured and killed by attacks from uncontrolled dogs and in general, dogs should be kept out of fields containing young animals. Dog owners should ensure that their dogs avoid chasing sheep, but equally that their actions do not separate lambs from their mothers as this results in the lamb becoming very vulnerable.
Justin Prigmore, Outdoor Access Officer at the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) explained: “Dogs that are not under proper control can be a real concern to farmers and land managers. Sheep are easily bothered by loose dogs, which can result in a ewe aborting her unborn lamb during the early stages of pregnancy. But at this time of year, when lambs are being born, even the stress of having a dog nearby can make a ewe stamp her feet on a nervous lamb that is looking for protection under its mother.
“Our advice is to avoid going into fields with farm animals. If this can’t be avoided, ensure that your dog is kept close at heel in areas where there could be young farm animals. If in doubt, pop your dog on a lead until you are in an area where you are sure it can cause no harm.”
Alastair MacLennan, a Strathspey farmer and member of the CNPA board added: “Some of the advice in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code is aimed at the safety of walkers and their dogs – for example, cattle can be unpredictable around dogs and can react very aggressively. If you find yourself in this situation, you should keep calm, let your dog go if it is on a lead and take the shortest route to safety.”
More information about dogs in the countryside and general outdoor access issues is contained within the Scottish Outdoor Access Code which can be viewed online at www.outdooraccess-scotland.com
Alert
Latest from the National Park
Glenmore fire update - 17 July at 2pm
An update on the wildfire situation at Glenmore in the Cairngorms National Park on 17 July at 2pm.
Glenmore fire update - 16 July at 2.30pm
Emergency services and partners continue to tackle a large-scale fire near Ryvoan Bothy.
Ongoing wildfire near Ryvoan Bothy
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and partners are currently in attendance at a large fire south of Aviemore.
Relevant alerts
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There is an ongoing wildfire situation at Glenmore within the Cairngorms National Park. Click here for all the latest. We would encourage members of the public to follow current guidance and be aware that the situation may change.
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Very high fire risk - 15 to 20 July
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has issued a very high wildfire warning impacting areas of the National Park on Wednesday 15 until Monday 20 July. If you are out and about in the Cairngorms National Park please observe the following guidance:
- Do not light any fire or barbecue, in line with the new fire byelaw
- Always ensure cigarettes are fully extinguished and take your litter (including glass) away with you
- Enjoy the outdoors responsibly - most wildfires are caused by human activity
- Stay alert - with dry vegetation and warm weather, fires can start easily, spread rapidly, and burn intensely
- If you see a wildfire, dial 999
For further updates on wildfire risk across Scotland, visit the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service website. To find out more about the fire byelaw, and to see your questions answered, visit our fire byelaw page here.