Access to the outdoors

In Scotland, you can usually access most land and inland water for recreation, education and crossing from one place to another. These rights are often called the ‘right to roam’. You can use your access rights at any time of day or night.

Access rights apply to most land and inland water in Scotland. This includes:

• hills and moorland – including mountains and open country

• woods and forests

• grassland and the edge of fields where crops are growing

• rivers and lochs

• the coast – including beaches and coastal paths

• most parks and open spaces.

You can use your access rights for:

• recreation – for example, walking, cycling, horse riding, wild camping or taking part in an outdoor event

• education – for example, learning about natural or cultural heritage

• crossing land or water

• some commercial activities – for example, if you’re a mountain guide taking someone hillwalking, or a photographer taking landscape photographs.

Using access rights responsibly

Access rights only apply if you act responsibly.

You should:

• respect privacy – keep a reasonable distance from houses and gardens

• avoid causing damage – for example to crops, fences, walls or paths

• avoid disturbing work – take care around farming, forestry and other land management work

• protect wildlife and the environment – take litter home and avoid disturbing animals

• control dogs – especially near livestock and wildlife

• follow local signs – if they give reasonable guidance about safety, privacy or land management.

You might lose access rights if you behave irresponsibly. This means you could be asked to leave land you would normally have a right to access.

Scottish Outdoor Access Code

The Scottish Outdoor Access Code is the main guide to using access rights responsibly in Scotland. It explains what responsible behaviour usually looks like for landowners, land managers and people enjoying the outdoors.

The code is based on 3 main principles. You should:

• respect the interests of other people

• care for the environment

• take responsibility for your own actions.

The code gives practical examples to help you decide what responsible access looks like in different situations. You can use the code if you’re not sure:

• if access rights are likely to apply in a particular place

• how to behave near houses, gardens, farms, forestry work or livestock

• how to avoid disturbing wildlife or damaging the environment

• what to do about dogs, camping, cycling, horse riding or water access

• if signs are giving reasonable guidance about safety, privacy or land management.

You can read the Scottish Outdoor Access Code on the Outdoor Access Scotland website.

Where access rights do not apply

Access rights do not apply everywhere.

In some places, you might not have access rights at all. In other places, you might have limited rights, such as the right to cross the land without interfering with its use.

Homes, gardens and private areas

Access rights do not apply to:

• houses and gardens

• land close to a house – if it’s needed for the privacy and enjoyment of the home

• buildings and structures – including farm buildings, sheds and fixed machinery

• land linked to buildings – such as yards, compounds and areas used for work.

Around larger houses, access rights might still apply to wider areas like parkland, woodland or grassland. This depends on how the land is used and if access would affect privacy.

Crops and farmland

Access rights do not apply to land where crops have been sown or are growing.

You can usually use paths, tracks, unsown ground and the edge of fields if you avoid damaging crops.

Grass grown for hay or silage can count as a crop when it’s at a late stage of growth and likely to be damaged.

Schools, sports areas and golf courses

Access rights do not apply to:

• land next to a school or used by a school

• sports or playing fields in use - if access would interfere with the activity

• artificial-surface sports pitches - whether or not they’re in use

• prepared sports areas - such as golf greens, bowling greens, cricket pitches and lawn tennis courts.

You can usually cross a golf course if you do not interfere with play.

You must keep off golf greens.

Other places where access rights do not apply

Access rights do not apply to some places for safety, security or operational reasons. These include:

• airfields and railways

• telecommunications sites

• military bases and installations

• working quarries

• construction sites

• visitor attractions or other places with an established entry charge.

Activities not covered by access rights

Access rights do not cover every activity. You do not have access rights if you’re:

• committing an offence – such as theft, vandalism, poaching, littering or polluting water

• using a motor vehicle for recreation or passage – unless you’re a disabled person using an adapted vehicle or vessel

• responsible for a dog that is not under proper control

• taking anything away for commercial purposes – for example removing plants, timber or other material to sell

• hunting, shooting or fishing – these need permission from the person who has the right to give it.

You can read more about hunting and fishing in Scotland.

If there’s a problem with access

Problems can happen when:

• someone is blocked from exercising access rights

• a landowner or land manager thinks someone is acting irresponsibly

• there’s conflict between different people using the same area

• behaviour might be criminal.

If access is blocked

A landowner or land manager must not deliberately or unreasonably prevent responsible access. This could include:

• putting up misleading signs

• locking gates without a good reason

• blocking paths or entrances

• intimidating people who are using access rights responsibly.

If you think access has been blocked unreasonably, contact the access officer at the local council or National Park authority. They can give advice and help resolve disputes.

If someone is behaving irresponsibly

If someone is behaving irresponsibly on land, the landowner or land manager can ask them to change their behaviour. If they refuse and keep causing damage or serious disturbance, they might be asked to leave.

If the problem keeps happening, contact the local council or National Park authority access officer. They can help with recurring problems, such as gates being blocked or fences being damaged.

If someone’s behaviour is criminal, contact the police. Landowners and land managers should not use force.

Rights of way and core paths

Public rights of way are different from general access rights. A public right of way is a route over private land that the public can use to travel from one public place to another.

Rights of way can still matter where general access rights do not apply. For example, a public right of way might cross land that is otherwise excluded from access rights.

Core paths are local path networks that help the public access land and water. Local councils and National Park authorities are responsible for core path plans in their areas.

You can find information about local path networks and core paths on the NatureScot website.

Where to get more information

The Scottish Outdoor Access Code gives detailed guidance on access rights and responsibilities. You can read the Scottish Outdoor Access Code on the Outdoor Access Scotland website.

If there’s a local problem with access, contact the access officer at the local council or National Park authority. You can find your local council on mygov.scot.

You can also get information about walking routes and rights of way from:

NatureScot

NatureScot is Scotland’s nature agency. It used to be called Scottish Natural Heritage.

NatureScot works to protect and improve Scotland’s wildlife, habitats and landscapes.

It also works with other organisations to help people:

• enjoy the outdoors responsibly

• understand Scotland’s natural environment

• use natural places in a way that protects them for the future

NatureScot can give advice about public access and outdoor recreation facilities. In some cases, it can also help fund facilities that support responsible access and recreation.

Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society

The Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society gives advice to the public and local councils about public rights of way.

It keeps records of main rights of way across Scotland. It also works with local councils and landowners to help make sure routes are kept open, maintained and free from obstruction.

The society also helps people understand how to use rights of way responsibly. This can help reduce conflict with landowners and other people using the countryside.

Ramblers Scotland

Ramblers Scotland promotes walking and campaigns to improve to the countryside.

It reports problems with rights of way to local councils and the Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society.

Ramblers Scotland also has local groups across Scotland.