The Ulster Federation of Rambling Clubs has at present 28 affiliated clubs with a total of about 1700 members .

As the Governing Body for hill-walking and rambling the Federation was honoured to receive
An invitation from the Secretary of State and Mrs Camilla Woodward
to attend a reception in Hillsborough Castle to celebrate Sport in Northern Ireland.
Our representative was introduced to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
 

 
Access article - Belfast Telegraph - 30 April

The editor Martin Joyce made the the following comment
 in the magazine . 

UFRC has interviews pending with Mr David Ford (Alliance Party leader) and Mr Patsy McGlone (Chair of DoE Environment Committee). We will seek:
(a)  Amendment of Occupiers’ Liability legislation to remove the term ‘trespasser’ from recreational walkers.
(b) Amendment to remove most legal liability for walkers from landowners/occupiers.
(c) Suggest that ‘the taxpayer’ provides indemnity insurance premium for landowner.
(d) Request that Central Government(EHS) has power to act in access provision where a D.C.seems reluctant to do so.
(e) Request review of all access legislation to bring into line with the modern approach in rest of GB and Europe.

Access Issues

In Northern Ireland, one of the issues which greatly disturbs landowners and occupiers (mainly farmers) is the possibility of being sued for personal injury sustained whilst walking on their land. It is a prime cause of access permission being refused or withdrawn.
In law, there are two classes of entrant onto privately owned land-the visitor, there by permission of the landowner and the trespasser , who walks without first seeking permission.  The landowner has, in law, a very limited duty of care to both and there are no known cases of successful court action for damages taken by walkers against  landowners . However the perception persists that a landowner is vulnerable, especially in cases where no third party liability insurance is in operation.
A proposal to amend Occupiers’ Liability legislation by the insertion of a third class of entrant-Recreational User-and a clear indication to landowners that they have no duty of care beyond that of not actively impeding access-has been refused by the Civil Law Reform Division, Department of Finance and Personnel.  The Division is ‘not persuaded’ that current law is a barrier to recreational access (for details of proposal, visit www.countrysiderecreation.com-parent site-publications).
The Minister of the Environment in the NI Executive (Mrs Arlene Foster) has supported this decision.
Thus walkers, when on privately owned land without specific permission are, legally, trespassers. UFRC member clubs, in drawing up walking programmes, are in most cases, effectively promoting trespassing activity. If the many visitors who come to Northern Ireland to enjoy walking holidays, were to be fully informed of the legal position, the Federation suspects that a majority would seek opportunity elsewhere.
The Minister envisages future access arrangements being based on the 1983 Access to the Countryside Order . This Order empowers District Councils to negotiate Access Agreements with landowners and has been conspicuously unsuccessful in its intent ,to date.

The Federation, fully aware of new enlightened and up to date legislation applying elsewhere in the United Kingdom, has written to the Minister urging her to reconsider her decisions.  It has also written to the Political Parties in Northern Ireland seeking support for progress and legislative change.

Are we are going backwards on access?

At a meeting of the Ulster Way Advisory Committee it appears that a local landowner has closed the Coastal Path between White Park Bay and Ballintoy Harbour. He has erected substantial metal barriers and notices indicating it is private land and you enter at your own risk.
Needless to say this is a premier walking route of many years standing, not to mention a major tourist attraction. (it is possible to go over/under/round the barriers.) this may be as the result of a dispute which does not directly involve walkers.
Signage indicates that those who wish to proceed onto privately owned land, do so at their own risk. We further believe that it is possible to walk around the barrier. Our Secretary has taken advice from sources within the local Council (Moyle).
UFRC advises its members to note the wording on the signs and proceed, at own risk. You will appreciate that this advice, while well sourced, must be ,in some respects, ''unofficial''.
If wording on signs were to be changed, do please heed and follow.
Also, it would appear that the North Down Coastal Path remains under threat east of Groomsport as Caravan Site and developers push closer to the sea. A letter to the Chief Executive of North Down Borough Council Mr Trevor Polley Town Hall, The Castle, Bangor BT20 4 BT asking what progress they have made in resolving this issue would be helpful.

Access problems at Atticall (southern slopes of Mournes), where a number of UFRC member clubs have had access difficulty.The Federation has been involved in discussion around this issue with the following result.
The local community at Atticall has assured the Federation that members are most welcome to walk in the area and is doing its utmost to solve current access difficulties at Sandy Brae.
UFRC members may now use the car park at Atticall Community Centre, well signposted at the lower end of Sandy Brae and always open. An optional donation of £2 per car parked may be left in the post-box at the Centre-it is run by local people, without grant aid-and money will be used to support its work.
Meantime, do not park on the edges of Sandy Brae Road and, on no account ,drive beyond the end of the tarmac surfaced road.

Latest on North Coast access problem

Click for article from Belfast Telegraph 20-01-08

Insurers will refuse cover which places further pressure on Moyle DC.  
Permissive path agreements, on which Waymarked Ways are founded, are fragile--landowners can withdraw at will.
Action Cancer has written to Moyle DC expressing great concern that its charity walks on the Causeway Way cannot   take place in the circumstances.  Organisations representing recreational users are entirely of one mind
Moyle has to act - legislation has to be revisited and amended but District Councils are not the place where access agreements should be negotiated - this must be a central government matter.
Recreational walkers must not be tarnished with the legal description--trespasser. 
  The Federation has taken a lead in helping to persuade Moyle District Council to fulfil its legal responsibilities and sort out this unsatisfactory situation. 
Items on two programmes (25-01-08) highlighted the North Coast access situation .  On "Good Morning Ulster"  UFRC Secretary Ronnie Carser was interviewed with Clarke Black, Chief Executive of the Ulster Farmers Union,  and in the evening on BBC Ulster Regional Television News our Secretary again spoke for a few minutes . 
 Moyle DC must restore this important access route . It is in the interest of every walker that this issue is sorted.
UFRC has receive widespread support for its stance on Ballintoy access, notably two photographers-Andy McInroy and Stephen Dickey have both offered support and use of photographs. More on this later.

UFRC events 2008

Saturday 12/04/08  

Stranmillis University College, Belfast has been booked for Spring Meeting  
9.30-13.30, Lecture Theatre No 5  
Light refreshments available from 10am, Meeting commences 10.30am
Speaker: Dr Mark Tully will present '' No sweat -an exploration of the benefits of walking ''.
Dr Tully is a Physiologist, based at the University of Ulster, specialising in exercise science with a particular interest in
walking. 
His presentation should appeal to everyone -from the danderer to the energetic hillwalker.
Stranmillis College?
 

Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st September '08 

First Aid Course, based in the Pavilion, Mary Peters Track, Belfast.
Instructor :-Steven Synnott , a paramedic with a  mountain rescue team and an excellent tutor. Saturday morning will be
spent in the classroom, the remainder of the course is practical and held outdoors. Course leads to the award of a
Rescue and Emergency Certificate aimed at hillwalking and outdoor activity. UFRC will subsidise members by 20%,
 so those taking part pay £48 pp. As places are limited, early application is advised. Applications to and further information
from -
Thomas McKenna thomas_mckenna@btinternet.com.  Tel, 30861759 after 7pm.

Saturday 18/10/08  

AGM will be hosted by Wee Binnians .
Two walks and History Trail in historic Slieve Gullion area
2pm AGM meeting in Tí Chulainn Centre, Mullaghbawn
Photographs and information about this area will be featured on the web-site during next spring . 

Binnian Cottage
Cornmill Quay

There is nothing quite like the feeling of getting in the door after a long, windy day out on the hills, knowing
that hot baths and copious cups of tea are imminent. This was what awaited us upon arrival at Cornmill Quay
in Annalong. Perfectly formed holiday cottages with roaring open fires and all mod cons are planted next to Annalong’s harbour and more importantly, its Harbour Inn.
A two night stay enabled us to benefit from the easy access to the Mournes and all they had to offer and
provided an excellent base for a stroll to the Harbour Inn should you not want to take advantage of the
fully fitted and kitted out kitchen in the cottage.
Our cottage, Binnian, comfortably slept four people in its twin and en suite double room. A family bathroom
completed the layout of the second storey. Downstairs, the open plan living accommodation and kitchen
provided an ideal setting for chat and snacking and should the conversation run out, there is always the
large flat screen TV in the corner.
All in all our stay at Binnian cottage was warm, comfortable and well appointed. A perfect base for taking
in the surrounding countryside.

Gillian, Lynne, Jim and Richard
Northern Ireland Young Walkers

Visit Cornmill Quay Web-site

UFRC members can obtain a 10% dicount on booking.
 

click for
CHARITY WALKS

A good idea for your next year's programme.  Clubs can arrange with Richard Lappin to go on one of their designated walks and explain the principles . Those who would like to find out more about the programme can visit the USA site where the principles were developed by clicking on the logo opposite.

UFRC BELIEVES STRONGLY IN TREATING OUR ENVIRONMENT WITH RESPECT,
ALL WALKERS SHOULD FAMILIARISE THEMSELVES WITH THE CODE FOR OUTDOOR BEHAVIOUR.

Leave no trace principles can be read by clicking 'Principles of Outdoor Ethics'