Access around Loch Leven is being examined

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has begun a consultation on access to Loch Leven, near Kinross, which is confined to 50 fishing boats and a ferry.

Scotland's new access laws come into force at the end of 2004 and would open the water to non-motorised craft.

The loch is also refuge to wintering geese and the UK's biggest inland duck colony, which are protected.

SNH has already stated there cannot be a free-for-all in terms of access.

The Montgomery family, who own the 3,500-acre loch, believe an area should be set aside for quiet water sports.

It's a great natural asset and it's really quite surprising how little access people have to it at the moment Ian McColl Ramblers Association Scotland

Mr Gaskell said: "The whole loch is a national nature reserve because of the outstanding wintering wildfowl that fly in here from Iceland, amazing numbers of geese well over 30,000.

"And then during the summer we've got a terrific density of ducks nesting out on St Serf's Island, it's the biggest colony in Britain."

In order to protect breeding birds there are only three points of general access in about 11 miles of shoreline.

But access is about to change, with plans for a path around the loch.

'Controlled' access

Ian McColl, of the Ramblers Association Scotland, said it was high-time people could enjoy all the benefits of the area.

He said: "It's a great natural asset and it's really quite surprising how little access people have to it at the moment."

Loch owner Sir David Montgomery, of the Kinross Estate, supports moves towards a path and more craft on the water.

But he believes the best way to achieve this is to keep sailing and canoeing to one place, with active supervision.

The loch may be opened to canoeing and sailing

"And it would be controlled because someone would have to run it there and they would be responsible for seeing that people did not go outside that area.

"That would inevitably mean the loss of some breeding areas and some nesting areas but I maintain that the other parts of the loch which would otherwise be going to be disturbed if they were uncontrolled will more than adequately be replaced."

SNH are canvassing views on the future use of the loch but seem to be leaning towards access guidance which would limit people to different parts of the loch at different times of the year.

But Sir David said he doubted that would work without full-time wardens.