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.

Eleanor Mackintosh

Cairngorms National Park Authority board member

Eleanor is a directly elected board member representing Ward 4. She was born and brought up in Glenlivet and continues to live there. Eleanor and husband ran a family farm on Glenlivet Estate which has now been taken over by their son. She spent 25 years working with the Clydesdale Bank latterly as a Financial Advisor. She serves on various community groups including the Tomintoul and Glenlivet Heritage Lottery Landscape Project Board.

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.

Eilidh Scobbie

Recreation / Deeside

Eilidh is a lawyer by training (now retired) and an outdoor enthusiast having been a hill-walker and cross-country skier for most of her life.  She is former President of the Cairngorm Club and is presently their social secretary.

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.

Ailsa Villegas

Community, recreation & public health / Badenoch & Strathspey

Ailsa was born and raised in the Park and now lives here with her family in Boat of Garten. She has previously worked as a ranger in the Park and currently working for the NHS promoting health through contact with nature. She also enjoys many outdoor activities including swimming, stand up paddle boarding, cross-country skiing, biking and dog walking.

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.