Enjoy the Aberdeenshire countryside safely and cleanly say rangers

People looking to enjoy the Aberdeenshire countryside this summer are being told to make sure they do it safely and cleanly.

Police Scotland and the local countryside rangers held meet and greet sessions with visitors, to make people feel more comfortable about enjoying the areas responsibly.

They have been working in partnership to share messaging on responsible countryside access. 

It focused on anti-social camping, littering, lighting and dangerous fires.

The pair say that while most visitors are responsible and leave no trace of their visit, there are some whose "irresponsible and anti-social behaviour" results in "negative impacts for other visitors, our communities and our countryside". 

Ranger service co-ordinator Fiona Banks explained: “We hope that through working in partnership with Police Scotland that everyone will feel confident to enjoy the benefits of accessing our countryside responsibly, but also that the minority of irresponsible visitors who disrespect or damage our countryside will be aware of the impacts of their actions.

“The Scottish Outdoor Access Code provides information for countryside visitors and land managers on what is and is not responsible access. This summer, our Ranger Service has developed a series of business cards summarising key parts of the Code which will be shared with visitors to our countryside.”

The recent session was one of a series of Police Scotland initiatives which will take place along the Deeside corridor hotspots over the summer months with partner organisations including NatureScot, Cairngorms National Park Authority Ranger Service, Balmoral Castle and Estate Ranger Service and the National Trust for Scotland.