Taking account of access rights

​Rights of responsible access extend to recreation and to some educational and commercial activities. Under the 2003 Act, land managers must therefore manage their land responsibly in regard to access.

The Scottish Outdoor Access Code sets out the responsibilities of both the public and land managers.

To find guidance on responsible access management in a wide range of situations – from planning for access and signs, to access with dogs and wild camping – visit the Scottish Outdoor Access Code website.

The 2003 Act gives local authorities a key role in advising on and helping to resolve local access issues, with support from local access forums. The National Access Forum, which advises on national access issues, complements the local forums.