Local Outdoor Access Forum

The objectives and functions of the Forum are:

•  To act as the local access forum for Cairngorms National Park and to undertake the functions of that body in terms of Section 25 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003;
• To advise the Authority in the review of the Core Paths Plan;
• To advise the Authority in the review of its Outdoor Access Strategy;
• To advise the Authority and any other person or body consulting it, on the existence and delineation of rights of way and the exercise of access rights;
• To promote responsible access and land management through assisting the Authority in publicising the Scottish Outdoor Access Code;
• To promote discussion and the sharing of knowledge, awareness and good practice in outdoor access matters;
• To support the provision of appropriate infrastructure that improves responsible access to the countryside for all; and
• To offer advice that will assist in the resolution of outdoor access disputes.

View meeting papers, minutes and agendas

Current Members 

John Grierson (Convener)

Ben Dolphin

Land management & recreation / Deeside

Ben works as a ranger for the National Trust for Scotland at Mar Lodge Estate. Before this he was a ranger at West Lothian Council, where much of his work focused on public/landowner access enquiries. Happiest outdoors, Ben maintains his own blog, writes regular columns for Walkhighlands and the Press & Journal, and is a Vice President of Ramblers Scotland (having been President between 2017 and 2020).

Mark Johnston

Land management / Tomintoul & Glenlivet

Mark works as a Countryside Ranger for Crown Estate Scotland overseeing visitor infrastructure, biodiversity and community liaison.  He is also a hill walker, kayaker and cyclist.

Colin Cadden

Community & recreation / Badenoch & Strathspey

Colin has been interested in the outdoors since touring the Highlands on his family holidays and his father taking him for walks and showing him the sights. He has retained that interest, developing into a hillwalker, cyclist, runner and paddler. Having moved to the Cairngorms 11 years ago, that has since intensified and he is often to be found searching for old tracks and paths after spending far too many hours poring over maps. He is an active member of both Cairngorm Runners and Cairngorm Cycling Club and also does volunteer work for the Scottish Rights of Way Society (Scotways) including path surveys, sign replacements and contributing to the book Scottish Hilltracks.

Maree Morrison

Land management / Badenoch & Strathspey

Maree works as Recreation Ranger for Forest and Land Scotland, covering Glenmore, Inshriach and Laggan/Strathmashie

Hilary Quick

Community & recreation / Badenoch & Strathspey

Hilary has been running and walking in the Scottish hills since 1983, she’s an experienced orienteering coach and now heavily involved with Aviemore parkrun. She’s passionate about butterflies and birds, and particularly interested in ensuring people can benefit from our wonderful surroundings without causing harm to the delicate wildlife.

Patsy Richards

Community & recreation / Highland Perthshire

Patsy was introduced to her love of the hills at school and aims to pass that on, holding a hillwalking permit for Scouts for many years and first volunteering in the early 80s on Ben Lawers’ footpaths.  At the Scottish Parliament and House of Commons she led teams briefing all parties on environmental, economic and access issues, before moving on to run major programmes. She enjoys backpacking, paddling, skiing and cycling in the Park.

Trevor Thornley

Community & recreation / Strathspey & Northern Cairngorms

Trevor is a charity trustee and active volunteer with the Dava Way Association; the association improves, maintains and promotes the Dava Way, a multi-use route running between Grantown-On-Spey and Forres that is one of Scotland’s Great Trails. During an extensive career in the Royal Air Force, Trevor spent a number of years as a member of the RAF Kinloss Mountain Rescue Team. He has climbed many of the Scottish mountains and recently discovered the joys of mountain biking.

Neil Wilson

Recreation 

Pete Wright

Community & recreation / Park wide

Part of the team who coordinates the delivery of parkrun in Aviemore, Chair of Speysound Community Radio and Team Leader of local Scout group. Runner, walker, cyclist, paddler and nature enthusiast.