ðə kˈʌntɹɪsˌaɪd skˈɑːtlənd ˈækt nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti sˈɛvən pɹəvˈaɪdᵻd ðə lˈiːɡəl bˈeɪsɪs fɚðə lˈɔŋ dˈɪstəns ɹˈaʊts, bˌʌt ðə fˈɜːst wˈʌn wʌz nˌɑːt ˈoʊpənd əfˈɪʃəli ʌntˈɪl nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi.
The Countryside (Scotland) Act 1967 provided the legal basis for the Long Distance Routes, but the first one was not opened officially until 1980.