Core Paths

A Core Paths Plan for Orkney

The Orkney Core Paths Plan presents Orkney Islands Council’s Core Paths Network.

Under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016, Orkney Islands Council has a duty to prepare a Core Paths Plan. The purpose of the plan is to identify a system of key routes for outdoor access in Orkney.

This Core Paths Plan document has been developed through extensive consultation with a range of stakeholders including local communities, access user groups, local organisations and agencies, land managers and visitors to our islands. The Orkney Core Paths Plan was reviewed and amended in 2018.

The Core Paths Plan includes a suite of maps showing the core paths for each area or island.

The Plan and accompanying maps can be viewed from the link in the 'Related Sites' section of this page

If you have any questions or would like more information on the Core Paths Plan or the accompanying maps, or if you wish to report an access issue with an existing core path or right of way, please contact the Ross Irvine in the Development and Marine Planning section by e-mail or by calling 01856873535 extension 2541. If you wish to report or discuss any maintenance issues on core paths, please contact Ian Wilkins (Roads Services Technician for Asset Management and Countryside Access) by email or on 01856873535 extension 2324.

Strategic Environmental Assessment

The Environmental Assessment Scotland Act 2005 requires that a Strategic Environmental Assessment, or SEA, is carried out to assess the effects that the Core Paths Plan could have on the environment.

An Environmental Report was produced to accompany the draft Core Paths Plan. The SEA process played a key part in developing the Plan and ensured that environmental considerations were fully taken into account. Following consultation on the Environmental Report, this has now been updated and the final version is available from the 'Related Downloads' section of this page.