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Your Rights and Responsibilities

Find out about your access rights and responsibilities.

Rights

Man Walking DogAccess rights apply to most land and inland water in Scotland for non-motorised activity including walking, cycling, horse riding and canoeing.

There are some areas where access rights do not apply, including:

  • Non-residential buildings and structures and closely associated land
  • Houses and sufficient adjacent land to provide reasonable privacy
  • Land around any school and land used by the school
  • Compounds and building sites
  • Sports and playing fields when in use
  • Land developed or set out for a particular recreational purpose; although you may cross a golf course (excluding greens) avoiding interrupting play
  • Grassland grown for hay or silage if it is at a late stage of growth and would be damaged by access
  • Land on which crops have been sown or are growing although field margins whether sown or unsown are not defined as crops.

There is an exception to these exclusions if a route is a Right of Way. More information about Rights of Way in Scotland can be obtained from Scotways opens in a new tab

Responsibilities

People only have access rights if they exercise them responsibly. These responsibilities include:

  • Being aware of the rights of others to enjoy the countryside
  • Respecting others privacy and peace of mind
  • Helping farmers, landowners and others to work safely and effectively in the countryside
  • Caring for the environment by being aware of the impact you might have on the places you visit
  • Following any reasonable information and advice and take responsibility for your own actions

Land managers are obliged to manage their land in a way that respects and protects responsible access rights.

Further guidance

Detailed guidance for access users and land managers is contained on the Scottish Outdoor Access Code opens in a new tab website.

View guidance leaflets on responsible outdoor access.

Specific advice is also available from specialist organisations;