Canvasdale

Scottish Outdoor Access Code

By the Canvasdale team · Last checked

The Scottish Outdoor Access Code is the official guidance on access rights in Scotland. It explains how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly, and it describes responsible lightweight camping, such as small groups on short stays away from buildings and roads, where those rights apply. The rules differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so the Code does not set the rules anywhere else.

Where you'll see it

You will see the Code cited on Scottish walking and camping pages, and on land-manager notices. It is the starting point for camping in Scotland, but it is not a list of places where you can camp.

What to check

  • The current camping guidance in the Code, which is the official source for its wording.
  • The places and situations where access rights do not apply, or may be restricted, as the Code describes.
  • Any local advice or restrictions for the area you plan to visit.
  • The landowner's permission, especially where the Code's conditions are not clear to you.
  • Your group size, length of stay and distance from buildings and roads, measured against the Code's description.
  • Wild camping: the wider term for camping away from a campsite.
  • Countryside Code: the advice used in England and Wales, with a separate code in Northern Ireland.
  • Open access land: land where walking rights apply, which may not include camping.

Read more: Wild camping in the UK: the rules explained and how we check the rules.