 The Snowie family has claimed walkers will invade their privacy |
A businessman has asked a court to exempt his entire 70 acre private estate from Scotland's right to roam legislation. Euan Snowie and wife Claire have claimed ramblers would invade their privacy if allowed onto the Boquhan Estate at Kippen, west Stirlingshire.
Mr Snowie, 38, has launched legal action at Stirling Sheriff Court.
Stagecoach tycoon Ann Gloag has taken similar action in relation to her Kunfauns estate in Perthshire.
Mr and Mrs Snowie last year began denying access rights to their land, citing a fear of being burgled.
A gate across the driveway to their home, Boquhan House, has remained locked since September 2005.
Exclusion zone
The couple have now asked the court to rule that excluding the public from their estate was essential.
The move came after Stirling Council issued the Snowies with a notice requiring them to unlock either one of two pedestrian gates adjoining the main carriage gates at Bolquhan House.
The local authority has argued that the 70 acre exclusion zone would be unnecessarily large and that the responsible exercise of access would not interfere with privacy.
Council solicitor Peter Dow said: "They are effectively excluding the public from about 70 acres of Scottish countryside."
Sheriff Wyllie Robertson adjourned the case for several weeks to allow members of the public to attend.
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