Scotland - No Public Access?

James W · Oct 16, 2006

Despite much searching, the only advice I can find regarding the question legal access / legal routes in Scotland is:

Driving a vehicle off road
Environmental Protection Act 1990 (Section 87)
It is an offence to drive a motor vehicle without lawful authority on:
land of any description (not forming part of a road), or
a footpath or bridleway
except in an emergency.

It is not an offence to drive a motor vehicle on to land within 15 yards of a road for the purpose only of parking the vehicle

...That's it! Does anyone know whether there is any similar situation regarding BOATs, TROs, etc. that I can follow on a forthocming camping trip to Scotland as there is in England? From what I can gather so far, the only possible way to achieve any off-road access legally is to plan my route via landowners.. There doesn't seem to be any 'public' rights of way in the form of unsurfaced roads!

Would appreciate any help - I don't want the spend my trip "within 15 yards of a road"!!

Thanks in advance

James

another Lara Croft owner · Oct 21, 2006

Depends where you are going. The more remote areas are unlikely to be too fussed if no damage is done or no farmed land is crossed. The more civilised areas are usually owned by English and they are unlikely to allow any type of access. Unfortunately, a large proportion of the Highlands is the same nowadays. Ask the gillie when you see them.

yfo866 · Aug 4, 2021

That's how the general law is in the EU.
In UK you can do [insert activity here] as long as there isn't a law that states that you can't.
In the EU it's the opposite. Unless there is a law that says you can, you can't!

EeEk · Aug 4, 2021

All land belongs to someone in Scotland. You are not allowed to drive on any of it without the land owners permission. Will you get permission....probably not.

yfo866 · Aug 8, 2021

EeEk said:
All land belongs to someone in Scotland. You are not allowed to drive on any of it without the land owners permission. Will you get permission....probably not.

No 'common land'?

BikerB · Aug 9, 2021

Off road access rights are generally aimed at walkers and horses in Scotland. These are far better than the equivalent access rules in England and in genera there is a right to roam in most places without restriction.
Generally these rules are not aimed at off road vehicles and permission is required from the landowner to access their tracks.

Scotland - No Public Access?

James W

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another Lara Croft owner

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yfo866

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EeEk

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yfo866

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BikerB

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