Letter: Rocky road for rural walkers and off-road cyclists

Sir: As you rightly point out (Leader, 9 May), a minority of mountain bikers cause an unacceptable amount of environmental damage. However, other users of the countryside can be just as careless. Four-wheel-drive vehicles and motorcycles have made a mess of paths such as the Ridgeway in Wiltshire. Horses have done much the same on the South Downs Way, while hikers in the Lake District litter the mountains with unnecessary cairns.

New regulations should take into account all countryside users. To do otherwise will only lead to more conflict.

Yours sincerely,

RICHARD NELSSON

London, SW2

9 May