Contents: Land access

Four nations, three laws
England and Wales
Northern Ireland
Scotland and deer stalking

Four nations, three laws

England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland all have different laws regarding access to land.

England and Wales

Most land in England and Wales is privately owned but the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (the CRoW act) gave everyone the right to roam freely in many areas of privately owned open countryside known as ‘open access land’ or just ‘access land’. This land includes mountains, moors, heaths and downs. It also includes common land registered with the local council and some land around the England Coast Path.

It can be used for walking, running, watching wildlife and climbing.

However, horse-riding, cycling, camping, driving vehicles, water sports and taking any animals other than dogs on to the land, is not normally permitted.

If there are public bridleways or byways crossing access land then cyclists and horse-riders can use those. Sometimes a landowner will simply grant permission for those activities to take place on their land. There may also be local rules or temporary restrictions in place. Search for ‘access land’ at www.gov.uk for more detail.

So, whilst running barefoot through wheat fields with ex-prime ministers and tiptoeing past cows, we may not be on access land. Then using PRoWs will avoid trespassing. On access land we’re free to wander off the PRoWs and go wherever we fancy. OS maps and the JohnThornMap of Britain both mark PRoWs.

Much adventuring in Britain will take place in our fifteen National Parks. Places like the Lake District, Snowdonia and the Peak District national parks. These have a lot of access land to enjoy.

The access land in England and Wales is marked on the 1:25,000 Explorer OS maps and the JohnThornMap (except the coastal access land). The boundaries are marked on the OS mapping with a wide light brown/salmon coloured border. The land within is covered in a faint yellow wash. If the access land is wooded then a bright lime green colour fill is used, instead of the yellow wash.

The coastal area boundaries are marked with pink half-moons and the coastal access land has a faint pink wash over it.

Once you’re walking around access land there’s no legal requirement to stay on PRoWs or paths. However, as we mostly walk around on the paths, it’s helpful if our maps accurately mark as many as possible.

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland public access to land is poor. There is no legal right to access any privately owned land. Permission is required from the owner. Even publicly owned land can only be accessed if the public are invited to use it. That leaves public rights of way. That’s basically it.  Search for public rights of way at www.nidirect.gov.uk for more details.

Scotland and deer stalking

By contrast, Scotland really is ‘land of the free’ with a tradition of unhindered access to the countryside. Thanks to the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, access rights apply to hills and moors, forests and woods, beaches and the coast, rivers and lochs, parks, and some types of farmland. You can roam, and even wild camp, very freely. Consequently you won’t find any PRoWs marked on OS mapping for Scotland.

There will be some seasonal restrictions in the popular ‘Loch Lomond and the Trossachs’ national park too. Details about these restrictions and general help on land access in Scotland can be found at www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot  

Deer stalking happens in Scotland and involves people with guns shooting to kill. The deer stalking season runs from 1st July to 20^th October with most activity from August. Anyone going into a stalking area should find out if any stalking is going on and choose routes to avoid causing any disturbance. It will probably minimise the chance of being shot too. A good thing. The Outdoor Access Scotland website provides stalking information. This service is called Heading for the Scottish Hills

If you behave responsibly when enjoying the Scottish outdoors then all should be well.