Landscape and Access Strategy Statement

Our principal goal is to ensure that major wind farm developments do not encroach on the most significant mountain areas as defined in the SMC Munros and Corbetts guide books. We use these designations of mountain areas due to their importance to mountaineers, and their general recognition and acceptance as being of high scenic and recreational value. In saying this, we recognise that other parts of Scotland also have high scenic and recreational value and where appropriate, we will work with other bodies to limit intrusive wind farm developments in these areas.

Our 'Access and Conservation Position Statements' confirm that we are not against renewable energy developments, indeed, we are pro-renewable energy and supportive of the government agenda, but only where such developments have limited or zero visual impact on the upland landscape as defined above.

We believe that:

• Scotland’s upland landscape has a scenic, cultural, economic and iconic value to the Scottish people which is worth significantly more than its economic value to renewable energy investors as a potential location for power generation developments.
• Scotland’s renewable energy targets can be achieved without recourse to the extensive development of mountain areas; areas which have high scenic value to the local population and to thousands of visitors alike, and world-wide recognition as landscapes of outstanding natural beauty.
• The upland landscape is:
• A venue for recreation, exercise and participation in a wide range of outdoor sports which are growing in popularity, with consequent benefits for health and wellbeing, so benefitting the national economy long-term through preventative measures which come, uniquely, at no cost to the government.
• An asset for the tourism industry with its vital importance to the rural economy, sustainably supporting thousands of local jobs in the highlands, in comparison to the transient job creation schemes represented by wind farm developments and enjoyed by multi-national companies.
• An asset which benefits the majority, rather than the minority who benefit disproportionately from the profits and subsidies made to the wind power generation industry and landowners.

The Landscape and Access Strategy Statement was approved by the MCofS Board, November 2011