A turf war has broken out between a landowner and dog walkers who claim he is blocking access to a woodland locals have used for years.
Successful farmer Graham Thompson bought Blervie House and estate at Raffan about seven months ago.
But now he has been accused of using large tree trunks to block forests tracks historically used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
Residents claim the obstacles are ruining beauty spots on historic drover routes which have been accessed for hundreds of years.
Mr Thompson declined to comment on the row yesterday.
But it is understood he has concerns about poachers and fly-tippers being able to get on to his property.
Moray MSP Richard Lochhead has held talks with both Mr Thompson and local and said the estate owner was operating within his rights.
But one resident said people in Rafford thought the precautions he was taking were “unnecessary”.
Greenkeeper Paul Trethewey is on the estate every day with his three dogs, Jerry, Archie and Maisie.
Mr Tretheway, who originally from Cornwall, was based at RAF Kinloss as a bomb disposal expert until 2009.
He said: “The previous owner was great. He just left us to it. But Mr Thompson really is making a statement.
“He said he was trying to encourage pedestrians to use the wood, but I don’t believe that or all the trees which have fallen and been left on the paths would have been cleared out of the way.
“I have lived up here for 27 years and people I know who are grannies, but have lived here and have been walking on the estate since they were youngsters, now cannot get through because of the trees.”
Another resident said: “Those trails date back to maps of the area from 1860.”
Avid walker Barbara Jones has lived at Rafford since 1970.
She said: “It is totally unnecessary as nobody has done any damage to his woods or anything else on the estate.
“There’s been no fly tipping as far as I’m aware.”
Mr Lochhead, who has responsibility for Scottish rural affairs in his role as a Scottish Government minister, said the law states that Mr Thompson has to cater for pedestrians to comply with Right to Roam access laws, but not vehicles.
The 190-acre Blervie House estate, with its Edwardian mansion built in 1910 for Major Harold Bessemer Galloway of the Seaforth Highlanders, sits three miles south of Forres.
Stone from the nearby ruin of Blervie Castle was used to build the house, designed by J M Dick Peddie.
It was later remodelled by Scottish architect Michael Laird.