National Nature Reserves - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We want everyone to have a great experience at the places NatureScot manages. Please always follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. Scotland’s world-leading access rights allow everyone to enjoy the outdoors as long as they do so responsibly. Please ensure your recreational activities don't affect the enjoyment of other visitors or disturb or damage the nature which people come to see or hear. 

 “Access rights extend to [nature reserves] but remember that they are carefully managed for nature conservation and to safeguard rare animals and plants. Take care to avoid damaging the site or disturbing its wildlife, or interfering with its management or enjoyment by others. Depending on your activity, you might be requested to follow a specific route or to avoid exercising access rights in a specific area: following such local guidance can help to safeguard the natural heritage of these areas.”

In keeping with the Access Code, some places have agreed local access arrangements – please follow these. We will usually provide temporary signs on-site to explain these arrangements, such as to protect nesting birds or pupping seals from frequent and repeated disturbance. If you’re unsure why they are needed, please ask the site manager or email [email protected].

Everyone is welcome. We know that the outdoors can present difficulties for people with accessibility requirements. We’re constantly looking for opportunities to improve our facilities to ensure all of our visitors can enjoy their visits. We recommend contacting the site manager in advance for detailed access arrangements, or email [email protected]. 

We are looking at options to provide greater information online about accessibility and will update this advice in due course. In the meantime we’d love you to visit the Euan’s Guide website to tell us (and others) what’s good and where we need to do better.

We welcome all assistance dogs – except on the Isle of May and Noss as noted in the section on 'dogs' section.

We welcome responsible wild camping in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and the practice of leaving no trace. But do not light a fire on any land during any prolonged dry period or at any time in any forest, woodland, scrub or meadow or on peaty ground. Please note and follow local Scottish Outdoor Access Code advice on lighting fires.

Most NatureScot lands are protected places for nature with widespread sensitive habitats and species and our nature reserves are protected and managed as highly valuable places for people to enjoy nature, which could be permanently destroyed by fire.

It is important you avoid damaging these special features and committing an offence.  Do not build shelters or fire sites.

If in doubt, contact the site manager for advice, or email [email protected].

Can I stay over night in my campervan or motorhome in a NatureScot National Nature Reserve car park?

We are trialling allowing overnight use at a limited number of our sites. Our sites are all National Nature Reserves created to protect and enhance nature; please respect them, other visitors and leave them clean and tidy. Most do not have any facilities to support overnight use and have limited capacity. Stays are limited to single nights. 

Where possible we encourage you to use local campsites and caravan facilities and support the local economy in areas you are visiting. 

There is currently no charge for using our sites overnight but we suggest a donation of £10 per vehicle towards the upkeep of our reserves. You can donate online at My Park Scotland. 

Please bear in mind that these are working locations and staff occasionally may be carrying out tasks at what you see as anti-social hours.

Have you got the right vehicle? 

Stay the Night only covers self-contained motorhomes and campervans; this means vehicles that include accommodation and internal toilet facilities. 

It does not include tents beside cars, roof-top, pop-up, pup or toilet tents, or any motorhome or campervan without its own internal toilet. 

None of our participating car parks are suitable for large vehicles (over 6 metres) and there is no provision for caravans. Check the details for your chosen car park before travelling. 

What is the time limit?

You can stay for 1 night only at a time between 6pm and 10am. You must not return to the same car park within 48 hours to stay overnight. You may use a car park during the day to explore and enjoy our National Nature Reserves.

Where do I park?

Park safely within marked bays and for safety reasons leave at least 4 metres between you and your neighbour. Make sure not to block other vehicles, gates, or trails, and stay off verges. Remember emergency services and reserve staff may need access at any time. All locations have a capacity limit for motorhomes and campervans and most have a limit on vehicle size. 

You cannot book sites it works on a first come first served basis. Please have a plan B in place if there is not enough space.

Which NNRs are in the trial?

• Ariundle – capacity = 2 
• Beinn Eighe (Glas Leitir Trail and Lochside car park) - capacity = 3
• Beinn Eighe (Visitor Centre car park) - capacity = 5
• Cairnsmore of Fleet (Visitor Centre – no parking here)
• Cairnsmore of Fleet (Viaduct car park) – capacity = 4
• Creag Meagaidh - capacity = 10
• Flanders Moss – capacity 2
• Forvie (Visitor Centre car park) - capacity = 3
• Glasdrum Wood- capacity = 2
• Hermaness - capacity = 3
• Knockan Crag - capacity = 8
• Loch Leven (Burleigh) - capacity = 4
• Moine Mhor - capacity = 2
• Muir of Dinnet - capacity = 6
• St Cyrus - capacity = 6
• Tentsmuir (Morton Lochs) - capacity = 4

What are the terms and conditions?

To ensure a pleasant stay for everyone, please follow our guidance:

• Overnight use is for informal one-night stopovers. Don’t stay for more than one night.
• Don’t use generators – these can disturb wildlife and other visitors.
• Use your own self-contained toilet facilities inside your vehicle only. Visit CAMPA for advice on waste disposal sites in Scotland. 
• If there are on site toilets do not use these for waste disposal.
• Leave 4 metres between you and your neighbour.
• Park within marked bays. 
• Don’t block any gates or trails.
• Don’t park on verges.
• Don't start fires or use barbecues.
• Take all rubbish away with you and leave no trace of your visit.
• Keep noise levels down, especially between 10 pm to 7 am.
• Keep dogs on a lead or under close control. Please pick up after your dog.
• Car park too full? Please check Visit Scotland for nearby campsites.

Dogs are part of the family and we know many people like to bring them on a day out – but out-of-control dogs can seriously disturb, harm and kill wildlife and livestock and affect the enjoyment of these wonderful places by other visitors.  

Please be aware that whilst you might visit a place only occasionally and feel that you cause no harm, the reserve manager and the wildlife of the reserve might have to cope with the cumulative effects of many people and their dogs.

Please check with staff if you’re unsure and follow any local site and seasonal advice, for example to follow specific routes, keep your dog on a short lead or avoid particular areas. At all times, please keep your dog under proper control and clean up after them – bag and bin your dog waste responsibly.

Note that the Isle of May and Noss ferry services do not carry dogs (including assistance dogs). If you would otherwise be able to visit, please email [email protected] and we will be happy to discuss how we might be able to make your visit possible.

You may encounter cattle, sheep and ponies on our reserves – they help us manage open habitats and provide transport over hill ground. Near livestock, you must keep your dogs on a short lead or close at heel. For more information please visit the Scottish Outdoor Access Code website.

Working with a dog behaviourist and the Tayport community at Tentsmuir NNR we have developed a package of dog training videos. Dog training and other resources will give you some great tips, information and skills to have fun and safe walks in Scotland’s outdoors as well as understand your rights and responsibilities under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

Thank you for considering making a donation to one of Scotland's National Nature Reserves. 

We are able to accept donations and legacies (money left in a will) to support the ongoing management and maintenance of our Reserves. On occasion there may be individual projects that need funding such as path work, boardwalks or wildlife viewing screens. Please contact us and we can see what may be available at that time, although again, we regret no personalised memorial or plaque is allowed.

Donate online: You can donate online through MyParkScotland. To donate to a specific NNR please put the name of the reserve in the comments box.

In person at our Reserves: some of our reserves have donation posts in prominent places where you can donate using cash. 

Disturbance by drones can seriously disturb wildlife and other visitors quiet enjoyment of the countryside.

If you are flying a drone, you must comply with the Civil Aviation Authority’s guidance including the Drone Code. You must also take extra care to avoid disturbing wildlife, which may be an offence. If in doubt, ask the site manager or email [email protected] before visiting.

When going onto land to launch, land or fly your drone, follow the general guidance on responsible access in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, comply with any local advice and avoid disturbing people, wildlife or livestock.

For commercial filming with a drone, see “Can I take pictures?” above.

If you’re planning an active outdoor event on, or passing through NatureScot land, please read the National Access Forum Guidance for event organisers and contact the relevant site manager or email [email protected] as soon as possible.

If you’re interested in having another type of event, including a wedding, please contact the site manager early in your planning process, or email [email protected], to discuss details and ensure things run smoothly. Please note it will not be possible to guarantee your exclusive use but we will be happy to discuss your requirements for your special day.

Please contact us in good time to allow for discussion and, if necessary, for us to grant permission. Depending on the event, there may be a charge. Income from events supports management of our reserves.

You can take as many pictures as you like, for personal purposes. Remember to share them with us on social media! 

Instagram #scotnature   Facebook @NatureScot  Twitter @nature_scot

If you wish to take photographs or film on a commercial basis, please contact the site manager by emailing [email protected]. If you’ll need to use vehicles, put down equipment, or if you plan to stay for a few days, you may need our permission and we may charge you a fee. Income from filming supports management of our reserves.

Some of our NNRs already host geocaches or have features listed as EarthCaches.

Geocaches do not normally cause problems as long as they’re discreetly concealed and are not buried. Please contact the site manager, or email [email protected], before installing a geocache to ensure that it doesn’t result in disturbance or damage to nature. If this does occur, we will try to contact the responsible person and ask them to remove the cache, or we will remove it. 

Similarly, before placing a real or virtual location for an online game please contact the site manager for advice on avoiding sensitive areas.

Most NatureScot lands are protected places for nature with widespread sensitive habitats and species, and some are also of historic importance. Follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and any local advice, bearing in mind that anything more than very minor and limited digging, without uprooting plants, may be an offence.

You may not use a metal detector at all if the place is of historic importance as this would be an offence. Historic Environment Scotland provides further advice in its booklet on metal detecting, cultural sites and the law.

We regret we are not able to accept or maintain personalised memorials such as plaques, commemorative benches, cairns or trees.

We are however able to accept donations and legacies (money left in a will) to support the ongoing management and maintenance of our National Nature Reserves. On occasion there may be individual projects that need funding such as path work, boardwalks or wildlife viewing screens. Please contact us and we can see what may be available at that time, although again, we regret no personalised memorial or plaque is allowed.

Donate online: You can donate online through MyParkScotland. To donate to a specific NNR please put the name of the reserve in the comments box.

To contact us about a legacy or larger donation: please email us at [email protected]

May I scatter cremation ashes?

We understand that many people are very attached to certain special places and may request to have their ashes scattered there. However, some of the habitats we manage are fragile and contain rare plants and wildlife and so we ask that you contact us for advice before scattering ashes on any of our National Nature Reserves.

Please email us at [email protected]

We regret we do not allow memorials of any kind and respectfully ask you not to leave any plaques, flowers, plastic wreaths or any other materials.

We’d love you to get more involved and there are various ways you could do this.

Volunteering - Check out each of our NNR pages on our website for opportunities to learn about and help manage a nature reserve as a volunteer.  Our volunteers come for a few days to a few months and from a single event to every week.  They help us with all aspects of reserve management – including working in visitor centres, guiding groups, managing trails and monitoring wildlife.

If you’re interested, please fill in a Volunteer Expression of Interest Form, noting which reserve you’d like to work on and email the form to [email protected].

Educational visits and research – You are welcome to bring your class or study group to our reserves.  Please contact the site manager in advance for up-to-date advice on facilities and current management activity - as well as to check if other groups are visiting that day.

Management planning –  We periodically review our plans for the development and management of each of our NNRs and consult widely with communities, special interests and others on our proposals.  We advertise these consultations on our website and through local contacts and social media.  We are always pleased to receive feedback and suggestions from visitors at any time – just email us at [email protected].

Community engagement – We support the Scottish Government’s target of achieving 1 million acres of and in community ownership by 2020.  If your community would be interested in developing its role in managing an area of NatureScot-owned land, with a view to potentially taking on its management or ownership, please get in touch at [email protected]  and we can discuss how we could make this happen.