A consultation seeking community views on access at the National Trust for Scotland’s Newhailes property in Musselburgh gets underway soon.

Conservation staff at the charity are asking anyone who visits the estate to get involved with the consultation which is an opportunity to influence plans which aim to help the charity improve outdoor access on the estate, providing suitable paths and information for visitors, balancing the needs of estate users and the need to protect Newhailes’ historic designed landscape and its wildlife. 

Annually, approximately 140,000 visitors use Newhailes estate and its pathways. 

Key proposals to improve access include: 

• Improving the path network around the estate, including better way marking and information on pathways and routes, encouraging more visitors to stay on paths and so reducing damage to ground vegetation; and,
• Introducing a new ‘on lead or to heel’ zone for dog walkers to help protect the ground nesting birds which breed at Newhailes.

The consultation runs from Monday 12 October until Friday 11 December. Open evenings for anyone interested in finding out more about the future plans for access at the estate will take place at Newhailes Visitor Centre on Wednesday 21 October from 15.00 until 20.00 and on Wednesday 18 November from 15.00 until 20.00. 

These events are an informal opportunity for visitors, local residents and the community to find out more about the plans to improve access at Newhailes and make their views known. Staff from the charity will be on-hand to explain the proposed changes and answer any questions.

Lothian area ranger Hannah Levene is leading on the consultation. She says: “This is an opportunity to for everyone who visits Newhailes, for whatever reason, to comment on how we manage the paths and recreation on the estate. We really want to ensure that everyone gets the most out of their time here and enjoys the experience. 

“There is such a wide range of people coming to Newhailes – whether it’s with school, their families or to walk their dogs. We hope to make the estate a better place for everyone to visit, balancing the different needs of all of our different visitors whilst also protecting the historic landscape and its important species such as the endangered Skylark. We want local people to come along to the open evenings to find out about our plans and have their say."