A new inquiry is to explore how well Scotland’s right to roam system is currently performing 21 years on from its introduction.
The system grants people the right to access most land and inland waters in Scotland, so long as they act responsibly.
The Scottish Outdoor Access Code sets out what acting responsibly means in practice. It sits alongside the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and the duties of public bodies, balancing public enjoyment of the outdoors with the needs of those who own and manage land.
The Scottish Parliament’s rural affairs committee will now explore whether the system is working as it should be, in light of changing land management practices such as peatland restoration and renewable energy projects, as well as the growing popularity in activities such as paddle boarding and wild swimming.
In March, Scottish ministers confirmed a new by-law had been granted to restrict the right to roam at the site of what will become Scotland’s first Center Parcs in the Scottish Borders. The move attracted criticism from some outdoor organisations.
