The UN has designated 2002 the International Year of the Mountains, but for nature-lovers in Ireland the issue of seeing the countryside is being clouded by the continuing disputes between ramblers and land-owners, writes Eileen Battersby.

The confusion surrounding the question of access to the Irish countryside is bewildering and complex due to many conflicting interests. Hill-walking has become increasingly popular in Ireland, although is not yet on the scale of Scotland or the English Lake District, where hill-walking and walking contribute greatly to the rural economy. According to Bord Failte, more than 260,000 tourists on walking related-holidays visit this country each year. .

However, only some of these are hill walkers. The Mountaineering Council of Ireland has a membership of 7,000, including climbers, walkers and ramblers. As well as walking-club members there are many independent walkers: about 100,000 Irish people are now active walkers at varying levels.

Dog-owners are well aware their pets are unwelcome visitors to the countryside. But now walkers are increasingly reporting incidents related to access difficulties as some farmers object to walkers, anglers and general visitors crossing their land. The Irish landscape is no longer an open paradise for walkers - or is it?

Traditional rights of way in Ireland, unlike those in England, Scotland and Wales, were never official. Ownership of the British uplands is dominated by large estates, whereas in Ireland there is a much more fractured pattern, with multiple ownership in the form of commonage.

Archaeologist Michael Gibbons who is based in Clifden in Connemara and conducts heritage walks throughout the west of Ireland feels the situation is the result of a changing Ireland. "Traditionally, there was no problem," he says. "People were free to walk the landscape. However, there was no clear legal right of access. But now there is a greater awareness of the value of land and increased pressure to subdivide the uplands into 'discrete private plots' with its resulting increase in wire fences."

Gibbons believes that the farming community is now feeling "under siege" from increased environmental designations, particularly Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and restrictions on farmers selling land for site development.

"Much of it has been introduced in a ham-fisted way by the State without advance consultation or adequate information, so there has been no educational programme involved," he says. Another aspect is that the wealth generated by the growth of walking-related tourism in rural areas has not sufficiently benefited the farmers on whose land the industry is based. This is an understandable source of tension.

Access is a problem all over the country, with particular friction throughout the west and south-west. While it is unproductive to be alarmist, complacency does not help either. "A small but growing number of farmers are venting their frustrations at the nearest soft target which is often your farm-friendly walker and foreign visitor," says Gibbons. "This is a saddening situation. Traditionally the most hospitable farmers in Europe are now becoming embittered because of the absence of any coherent agreed policy."

It throws doubt on the ability to develop a new rural economy as we go forward into what is an increasingly leisure-based society. "Ironically," adds Gibbons, "access is being closed down in Ireland while our competitors in Spain, Greece and elsewhere in remote rural areas are actively targeting the walking and cultural tourism market in order to breathe new life into deprived mountainous areas."

The forthcoming issue of Walking World Ireland updates the access problem, which appears to be worsening, especially in the Beara Way and the Sheep's Head in west Cork. David Herman of Keep Ireland Open refers to bilingual "hostile notices on access roads."

According to WWI editor, Martin Joyce, "First of all the Government needs to admit there is a problem and to give a time-frame towards solving it. Secondly, Bord Failte is an arm of government, and while one shouldn't expect it to publicise abroad the fact there is a problem, it should get actively involved with local interests such as the farmers, accommodation-providers and local authorities.

"We know farmers are under economic pressure as never before, but the solution to these problems does not lie in denying access to walkers," he says.

Does the Irish Farmers' Association see a problem? "There is no denial of access," says Jim Devlin, secretary of the IFA environmental committee. "The land in Ireland is, in general, in private ownership and is a working environment. However, it is enjoyed by all. There are instances of conflict, but normally there is a background to such disputes." Devlin feels many of those complaining about access are "creating conflicts".

He says people are free to enjoy the countryside providing they acknowledge that the situation depends on mutual respect.

In 1995 the IFA published its Farmland Code of Conduct outlining correct behaviour for anyone crossing farmland. "It has the agreement of all the walkers, anglers, orienteering groups and so on," says Michael Gibbons. That year also saw the passing of the Occupiers Liability Act as a way of protecting the farmers and other property-owners in the State against insurance claims. No Irish farmer has as yet been sued by a walker.

"In the long run the farmers are the biggest losers," says Gibbons. He mentions a scheme encouraging the restoration of ruined and derelict buildings on farms with a view to use as tourism accommodation. It was a good idea; "Unfortunately, it was not promoted by the farm organisations and it faltered because of an absence of vision," he says.

"There is a small problem, with the potential of becoming a bigger one" says Milo Kane, chairman of the Mountaineering Council of Ireland environmental working group. Joyce agrees there is a problem "and regardless of how you quantify it, is undeniably getting worse."

A statement from Bord Failte reads: "By its nature walking often takes place over private lands. Many farmers are supportive and welcoming of walkers, and Bord Failte encourages this on a nationwide basis. However, there is currently an issue with regard to walkers being denied access to private land. A draft resolution has been put to the Department of Agriculture to address this."

According to Gibbons, "Restriction of access is damaging the rural economy, it is blunting opportunities at a farm level and it's tarnishing our tourism and agricultural image abroad."

However, according to Helen Lawless of the Mountaineering Council of Ireland, "Access difficulties are not widespread, but unfortunately tensions do seem to be increasing, mainly due to a small number of highly publicised incidents." She mentions that the busiest two destinations, the Mourne and Wicklow Mountains, are relatively trouble-free, thanks to both areas having partnership bodies well in place.

The Mountaineering Council of Ireland is involved in a forthcoming conference, "The Creation of Partnerships to Manage Ireland's Upland Regions", in Sligo on November 21st-23rd.