We are incredibly fortunate that instances of irresponsible access across the Estate are few and far between. The vast majority of visitors to Logie Steading, and the surrounding areas, treat the land with great respect, coming to immerse themselves in nature, enjoy its beauty, and—more often than not—treat themselves to a delicious slice of cake!
While it is rare, like other landowners across the country, on occasion we do experience instances where responsible access is not at the forefront of visitors’ minds. We like to assume these instances are a case for a lack of awareness, rather than something more deliberate. So, we thought we would share some of the issues experienced on the Estate and explain what could be done differently, highlighting how to access the natural environment in a way that is both safe and responsible.
Wild camping is a great way to immerse yourself in nature, and while many leave no trace, others leave litter, set fires in woodlands or on beaches, and cut down living green wood trees in an attempt to burn them as firewood. While rubbish can be cleared, the tree stumps will never regrow.
We do not support having campfires at any time, especially not during times of such low rainfall. I’m sure you will well be aware of the 2025 fires on the Dava Moor and how devastating they were. Some visitors see a pre-existing fire ring and think that means it’s an OK spot for a fire, and often people will create new ones. However, by leaving a fire ring, you are not supporting the ‘leave no trace’ ethos of the Scottish Outdoor Access code. If you must have a fire, its best to bring a stove which sits off the ground, use it out with the woods and take any ash away with you.
While litter on the river paths is rare, we see a lot of litter on the road verges where people fling empty fast-food bags or cups, bottles and other rubbish from their vehicle as they pass through. Our maintenance team do regular litter picks to try remove the litter as best we can, but it is a challenge to keep on top of.
We have also experienced fly tipping in laybys, usually appearing overnight. In these situations, while we inform the Police and allow them to search the rubbish for evidence, it is ultimately an Estate responsibility to clean up.
If coming to the Estate, please do use bins provided, or take rubbish away with you. I’m sure you’ll agree that rubbish piles like the image below – belong at the dump!
We know Logie is a very popular spot for a lovely walk with your furry friends, but dogs off lead running through woodlands and moors can have a negative impact on ground nesting birds and other wildlife such as adders and slow worms warming themselves in early Spring sunshine.
Dogs are always very welcome at Logie, but please be mindful of them in the woodlands, especially from March to June.
Livestock worrying is also a criminal offence that can result in significant fines and even imprisonment. Best to keep them on a lead near fields and be extra careful when livestock are pregnant or have young.
To help keep in mind what responsible access means, here are a few key things to remember!
- Leave no trace. The phrase, take only photographs and leave only footprints sums it up best! Whether you’re camping, going on a walk or passing through, there should be no trace you were ever there – other than the photos you take and memories you make.
- Fires are not advised. While we appreciate sitting around a cosy fire is nice, the risk of them getting out of control is high, no matter how responsible you are. If you must have a fire, bring a stove which sits off the ground, use it out with the woods and take any ash away with you.
- Give wildlife space to thrive: Keep dogs under control in woodland, especially from March to June.
- Respect other users. People love coming to Logie to do all sorts of activities, from fishing to mountain biking, bird watching, inspect spotting, white water rafting, dog walking and even wild swimming. Everyone has a right to responsible access. Make space for others and always be kind.
Now we all know, let’s get out there and enjoy everything this fantastic part of Moray has to offer! If you come and visit, please do feel free to share your experience with us by tagging us in your Instagram posts. We are @Logiesteading and love to see what you get up to!
Blog written by Gill Pearson, October 2025
Cover image by Pete Pattison: petepattisson.com
