The Ramblers’ Association’s Scottish president has been hitting the trails this weekend.

Dennis Canavan, a former MP and MSP, led a walk today to the Sauchieburn estate, where millionaire owner Bill Roddie is trying to keep out walkers, despite the right to roam granted by the Land Reform (Scotland) Act.

And yesterday, he led a party of walkers on a brief, 30-minute stroll to demonstrate the health benefits of walking. The events were staged to show the good and the bad sides of walking in Scotland and were part of the Ramblers’ Association Scotland’s annual meeting in Stirling.

As reported on grough, property magnate Mr Roddie has erected locked gates and fences have been placed across a path on his land, to deter walkers from using it. Stirling Council is taking action against him for a breach of the Land Reform Act.

Mr Canavan was due to be accompanied today by Members of the Scottish Parliament, including Bruce Crawford, Michael Matheson, Christopher Harvie and Robin Harper, to discuss how the Sauchieburn barriers to access can be removed as soon as possible.

The Saturday stroll, led by a piper, is part of a campaign to get Scotland fit in the run up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games, which will be held in Glasgow.