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the best evidence to quote is that of Professor Ramsay, as keen a mountaineer at home as in the Alps. He writes:—
“For all persons who do not wish to annoy their neighbours, all grouse-moors, all pasture-farms are practically open to the pedestrian as it is. Unless a man wants to traverse a beat where sportsmen are actually shooting, no difficulties are placed in the way of persons crossing moors or open grounds, except, perhaps, where these are in the neighbourhood of towns. But in such cases restrictions must be imposed.”
Professor Ramsay’s views are of the more importance because he is the president of the Scottish Mountaineering Club, and thoroughly acquainted with the views and experiences of its members. That Club is of itself an important piece of evidence. It was founded recently with the following objects:—
“To encourage mountaineering in Scotland in winter as well as summer; to serve as a bond of union amongst all lovers of mountain-climbing; to create facilities for exploring the less known parts of the country; to collect various kinds of information, especially as regards routes, distances, means of access, time occupied in ascents, character of rocks, extent of snow in winter, &c.; and in general to promote everything that will conduce to the convenience of those who take a pleasure in mountains and mountain scenery.”
The Club lays down as a fundamental principle of its constitution, “The members of the Club shall respect proprietary and sporting rights, and endeavour to obtain the co-operation of proprietors.” Its membership is about a hundred, and it includes many of the most zealous climbers and walkers in Scotland. The Club issues a journal giving accounts of the doings of its members. From this journal, and also from personal communication with a considerable number of the members, it is probably safe to say that the view of the bulk of the members is that expressed by Professor Ramsay, and in the following letter from the treasurer of the Club, Mr Gilbert Thomson, C.E., who writes:—
“My own experience is that I have never been challenged in going where I wanted, and I have done a fair amount of climbing at all seasons. Of course I should not expect to go unchallenged through a grouse-moor in August, or a deer-forest in the stalking season; but there are many hills which are neither one nor other. The members of the Club to whom I have spoken on the subject are all much of the same opinion—that we should be better to trust to the common-sense of proprietors, who, as a rule, are willing to give any reasonable facilities, rather than to any compulsion. If the law gives us a pound of flesh, we shall doubtless get it; but at present we get more than that pound by courtesy, and we could not expect in future to get more than the bare letter of the law. There is, I think, a general that we should give and take, and that, as we have practically freedom to do as we like the greater part of the year, it is very reasonable that the proprietors should not be disturbed during the short period necessary for their sport. Of course there are exceptional cases of men who give no permission, and in regard to whose territory I suspect most members of the Club would have no scruple at any time of the year. I don’t think that many of us, however, would like to see all proprietors harassed on account of a few. Speaking for myself, I believe that were Mr Bryce's bill passed, the difficulty of access to many parts would be greater than it is now, by indirect hindrances, such as discouraging inns, &c.”
Testimony of this kind might be multiplied indefinitely to show that through the greater part of Scotland there is no grievance re-