Welcome

Background to this study

Many people in Scotland are unaware of the paths which they could be using. The promotion and marketing of paths can maximise their benefits for health, for the economy and for countering climate change. The use of websites for this is increasing, but there are concerns that the coverage of sites is not comprehensive and that the quality and usefulness of information is inconsistent. This has created a confusing and piece-meal picture for anyone trying to access information on paths in Scotland, and there is need to explore options for developing a more cohesive approach and to help coordinate and add value to these initiatives. Better co-ordination of effort and a stronger customer-focus is important in delivering a good range of products targeted at relevant audiences.

This study is to review the current situation, assess the needs of the user and come up with options for future delivery. The study is being undertaken by Bill Taylor and Plexus Media on behalf of Paths for All and is funded by SNH.

Over 1100 of you responded to the initial questionnaire; this is a fantastic response, and you can view the results and a summary of the conclusions.

We would like you to have a look at some websites that demonstrate how the most important features (identified from the survey) are used. We would also ask that you look at a simple example of how the most important website features might be delivered in the future. This illustrates a hypothetical network and allows you to select one path and see how basic information can be simply delivered. Any future developments would have to take account of other features, but this shows what is the minimum provision that users would expect across the whole of Scotland.

Thank you