Pilot/Consultation: Know the Code Before You Go!
Scottish Natural Heritage and the Educational Resource Partnership have been working together to produce two packages of educational resources to help you to raise awareness and understanding of access rights and responsibilities amongst 8 – 14 year olds.
For full details and an opportunity to provide feedback please visit SNH's consultation web page
Outdoor Access
In Scotland we are very fortunate to have the most enabling legislation re outdoor access in the UK, which came into effect on the 9th of February 2005.
Without access rights it would be extremely difficult to provide Outdoor Education, so we must endeavour to make the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, known as 'the Code' work.
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Scottish Outdoor Access Code ('the Code')
A copy of 'the Code' is available via the outdoor access web pages.
On the outdoor access web site you will find out all about 'the Code' and what to do if you have experienced unreasonable restrictions being enforced thereby making access difficult or not possible
It is clear; there is not a ‘right to roam’, this term implies you can go regardless of your impact on others and the environment, no you can’t.
What we all have is a ‘Right of Responsible Access’
The three key principles for responsible access apply to both the public and land managers:
Respect the interests of other people:
Be considerate, respect privacy and livelihoods, and the needs of those enjoying the outdoors.
Care for the Environment:
Look after the places you visit and enjoy. Care for wildlife and historic sites.
Take responsibility for your own actions:
The outdoors cannot be made risk-free for people exercising access rights; land managers should act with care for people’s safety.
By adopting the 3 key principles above we will ensure that we will continue to have access legislation that supports providing education outdoors.
If you are a leader of others in the outdoors it is important that you promote 'the code' to all in your charge, by understanding people are better placed to make informed judgements which will be to the benefit of all.
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Highland Council Access Team
For information regarding;
• Access Officers
• Local Access Forums
• Highland Council’s Access Strategy
Please visit Highland Council's Countryside Access web pages.
Access in England and Wales
If you are travelling to England or Wales to use the countryside for outdoor education, please familiarise yourself with the different access laws that apply down there.
Visit the Countryside Access for England web site for further information about access rights in England.
Visit the Countryside Access for Wales web site for further information about access rights in Wales.
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