Outdoor access
Seasonal Access Rangers
The seasonal Access Ranger service started in May 2021 with the aim of engaging with people visiting the Highlands through patrols and visitor engagement across the whole of the Council region, except the Cairgorm National Park who operate a separate ranger programme. Accesss Rangers visit sites in the early evening and morning as this is the time where the public are likely to be preparing to stay (or have stayed) overnight at locations with limited or no facilities for such use. Site specific Access Rangers have been employed for very busy sites such as Chanory Point, Smoo Cave, Old Man of Stoer etc. where a presence throughtout the day is required.
As visitor numbers increase throughout the Spring and Summer months, so will the number of Rangers who will be out-and-about on their patrols. Highland Council plans to build a team of up to seventeen Rangers by June, working through the high season and into early Autumn.
The Rangers will offer a friendly and welcoming approach to engaging with the public to inform and educate people about access rights, wild camping, overcrowding, parking - including overnight parking in motorhomes - littering, fires, damage to trees and outdoor toileting. They will also collect data on visitor numbers and capacity issues especially at popular sites.
In between patrols the Rangers will liaise with communities and landowners when issues arise, working together on solutions. The Council also hopes to recruit some local volunteer Rangers to assist in busy periods.
The team can be contacted by email at accessrangers@highland.gov.uk
or by phoning the Senior Ranger on
There is no funding in place to employ Access Rangers for the 2024 season.