Where you're allowed to walk
Access rights in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, in plain words.
The rules differ across the four nations. In short: Scotland gives a right of responsible access to most land; England and Wales give rights along paths and across mapped open country; Northern Ireland has far fewer rights, and most hill access rests on goodwill.
Scotland
The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 gives everyone a right to be on most land and inland water for walking and other non-motorised recreation, as long as they act responsibly. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code says what that means: take responsibility for your own actions, respect people's privacy and their work, and care for the environment.
- The right doesn't cover houses and gardens, farmyards, fields of crops, or land where work such as tree felling is under way.
- Estates stalk deer mainly from mid-August to October. Check before you go and follow reasonable requests about routes. See Walking in the Highlands in stalking season.
- Scotland's right to roam, explained has the detail.
England and Wales
- Public rights of way: footpaths (yellow waymarks) are for walkers; bridleways (blue) are for walkers, riders and cyclists. They are shown on OS maps and you have a right to pass along them, even across farmland.
- Open access land: the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 gives a right to walk freely over mapped mountain, moor, heath, down and registered common land. It is marked on OS Explorer maps. Landowners can close it for short periods, and it can be shut in high fire risk.
- Away from these, you need the landowner's permission. Many estates, the National Trust and forestry bodies give it freely.
Northern Ireland
There is no general right to roam and few public rights of way. Most hill walking, including in the Mournes, is on land owned by public bodies and the National Trust or by permission of farmers. Keep to the usual routes, use stiles and gates, and leave dogs at home where signs ask.
Everywhere
- Leave gates as you find them, and don't climb walls or fences where there is a gate or stile.
- Keep dogs under close control near livestock and ground-nesting birds. See Ticks, midges, cattle and dogs.
- Park without blocking gates, passing places or farm tracks.
- Take your litter home, including fruit peel and tissues.
General guidance from the TRXO team, last read through on . It is no substitute for training or for your own judgement on the day.