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.

If you have an access issue, please contact RHSoc at hof@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:

For other countries, you are advised to conduct a web-search to ascertain the access laws for that country.

Sensitivity, Covid-19 and walking

As Covid-19 restrictions begin to ease we'd like to remind you of the need to be more sensitive than usual to other’s fears and feelings:

  • Plan your route so that, where possible, you avoid going close to others’ properties.
  • If there is a debate about access,  we suggest a graceful and prompt retreat without conversation.
  • When using public websites to record ascents, think carefully about what you record.
  • Remember some summits are inaccessible, even if on a list.

National bodies such as Mountaineering Scotland and The British Mountaineering Council provide advice on the latest position with regard to COVID-19 travel and access restrictions.