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image : getty |
Above : Skye Bridge |
clean on the highest branches , but we can reach berries that beaks can ’ t . Soon , our fingers and teeth are stained purple , and we ’ ve had our fill of tart wild blueberries . Walking and talking outdoors , sharing a taste of the forest , dodging miniature flying pests , I can ’ t help but feel this is a bonding experience we ’ ll relive around the dinner table for years to come .
As we enter a clearing , Mitchell spots campervans parked illegally along the private road . Hikers have the ‘ right to roam ’, meaning they can access the land , but it ’ s forbidden to park on privately owned acreage . In the summer , streams of loaded campervans seeking a remote spot base themselves on the Isle of Skye .
It ’ s a conflict becoming more common as travellers search for an idyllic vista without understanding local ownership
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rights . The # RecreateResponsibly movement seeks to educate travellers about the use of public lands and how to practice sensible stewardship abiding by ‘ leave no trace ’ principles . In Scotland , the right to roam is an established tradition enshrined in the Land Reform Act of 2003 that encompasses care for the environment aligned with shared interests and individual accountability .
REACHING THE ISLE OF SKYE
For day-trippers , traversing the Skye Bridge across Loch Alsh to the Isle of Skye is an unmissable experience . It ’ s a long drive from cities like Edinburgh , Glasgow and Inverness to this remote seaboard — home to enchanting fishing villages , salty breezes and expansive views . One of Scotland ’ s bestknown castles is located just off the road a
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spring 2024 • 39 |