Land access in Scotland, Wales, England and Ireland
Access Issues
Land access in Scotland, Wales, England and Ireland
The legal rights to enter land vary across Britain and Ireland. Where there is no legal right, permission should be sought from the landowner before entering the land.
Please note that unauthorised access to some Ministry of Defence land constitutes a criminal offence – see government guidance. This also applies to some land owned by Network Rail – see this guidance.
Just because you are on private land with consent does not mean that other illegal or unlawful acts cannot be involved. The most obvious is damage to property (e.g. breaking down a wall or gate in trying to pass over it or damaging SSSIs), disrupting lawful activities on the land or startling livestock in a way that causes injury. Although trespass is normally a civil, rather than criminal, matter such acts can constitute criminal offences.
The flying of drones over private land can also be trespass without actual or implied consent.
If you have an access issue, please contact RHSoc at rhsoc@rhsoc.uk.
RHSoc cannot condone its members, or anyone else, entering land where permission has not been obtained, or where there is no legal right to do so.
Where there are known access issues, RHSoc may be willing, in limited circumstances, to engage with land-owners to try and negotiate access for its members under terms and conditions that the land-owner finds acceptable.
Land access guidance:
- Scotland
- Wales - see also this guidance
- England
- Northern Ireland
- Ireland
For other countries, you are advised to conduct a web-search to ascertain the access laws for that country.
Sensitivity and walking
In any event, access should be exercised responsibly:
- Plan your route so that, where possible, you avoid going close to others’ homes unless on a public right of way.
- Avoid damage to property.
- If challenged by a landowner over access, we suggest a graceful and prompt retreat without conversation unless you are clearly in a location where public access is permitted.
- When using public websites to record ascents, think carefully about what you record.
- Remember some summits are inaccessible, even if on a list.
Further advice can often be found on the websites of national bodies such as Mountaineering Scotland and The British Mountaineering Council, as well as charities such as Ramblers, Ramblers Scotland and the Open Spaces Society.