JK Rowling locked in row over 'right to roam' on Scottish estate

JK Rowling locked in row over ‘right to roam’ on Scottish estate: Walkers accuse firm controlled by Harry Potter author of blocking access to six-mile footpath on forestry land

• Thistlelane Ltd has been accused of preventing access to the Captain’s Road
• Firm’s sole director is Rowling’s husband Dr Neil Murray but she controls stake
• It denies any right-to-roam legislation had been breached by any actions

JK Rowling’s forestry estate company is in a row with hikers and cyclists over a popular trail.

Thistlelane Ltd has been accused of preventing access to the Captain’s Road path with signs and trees.

It has been alleged by walkers and mountain-bikers a historical six-mile right-of-way has been hampered by it.

The 290-hectare Sheperdscleuh estate and the 306-hectare Wardlaw are both owned by Thistlelane.

It denied all accusations that any right-to-roam legislation had been breached.

Mountain bike enthusiast Paul Collins, who lives in the Yarrow Valley, said ‘We can’t now walk or cycle the original Captain’s Road because of forestry, and they keep raising concerns about using the nearby forestry road as an alternative route.

Thistlelane Ltd’s sole director is Ms Rowling’s husband Dr Neil Murray but the Harry Potter author is shown to hold the significant control of the firm in the Companies House papers

The 290-hectare Sheperdscleuh estate and the 306-hectare Wardlaw area are both owned by Thistlelane

‘We’re now at the stage where we can’t follow the Captain’s Road because of the action of the landowners,’ he added to the BBC.

Mr Collins reckoned forestry companies at nearby Glentress were opening up great swathes of land for walkers and mountain bikers.

But he said the path at the centre of the dispute seems to have been treated differently.  

Thistlelane Ltd’s sole director is Ms Rowling’s husband Dr Neil Murray.

The trail is named after a Napoleonic War captain, called Napier, who bought and farmed the same hills in the early 19th Century

But the author is shown to have significant control of the firm in the Companies House papers.

Gordon Harrison, former chair of the Ettrick and Yarrow Community Council, said the road had been the centre of the community for some time.

He added: ‘The Captain’s Road has been there for a long time and when the community decided to signpost it and resurface a section, the discussions with landowners were favourable.

‘We wanted to encourage people to visit the area and either walk or cycle the route between Tushielaw and St Mary’s Loch – there are some spectacular views.’

‘Something has happened and I don’t know what, but more recently there has been continuous hurdles put up to prevent people using the route.

‘The latest is them planting saplings across the right-of-way and not offering any alternative routes – those saplings will quickly become large trees and it will be impossible to walk or cycle through there.’

The road is named after a Napoleonic War captain, called Napier, who bought and farmed the same hills in the early 19th Century.

Source: Read Full Article