Right to roam access has been granted a year early in some areas by rural affairs minister Alun Michael.

Forum Response: Country Land and Business Association

Elspeth Henderson, a spokesman for the Country Land and Business Association, said: "By rushing out access areas ahead of schedule there could be problems making them properly workable."

Forum Response: Countryside Alliance

Richard Burge, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, told ePolitix.com: "Public confidence in the planning process has thus far been almost non-existent.

"To introduce the right to roam before the area has been adequately mapped is ludicrous - there are many grey areas and question marks over where exactly the right to roam exists.

"Bringing in the right to roam earlier than planned is a cause of great concern - we would rather see the process run on time and to everyone's satisfaction than rush, half-baked, into an access muddle."