Respect the Privacy of Others
Access all areas? Yes there is the right to roam but - and this is the all important small print – ‘Although access rights, particularly for recreational purposes, have been exercised for many years, this has largely been through the tolerance of landowners, rather than as of right, unless a public right of way had been established.' So if you can, stick to any signposted right of way (why wouldn’t you?) and don’t test the tolerance of the landowner.
The Scottish access rights may appear to be extensive but they are subject to many restrictions and they do not give you right of access to the following land:
- any land with buildings (residential/non residential) on it, a fixed piece of machinery or anywhere that provides an individual with privacy or shelter (e.g. tent or caravan).
- gardens around houses, caravans or tents etc.
- common gardens that are restricted to residents
- schools or land used by schools, such as a playground;
- land that has been developed as a sports or playing field, or for a particular recreational purpose;
- land on which crops are growing (in order to protect farming);