Current progress

Scottish Outdoor Access Code
consultation period
Advice on responding
MCofS consultation response (pdf)
latest draft

The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill
first impressions
MCofS evidence
Supplementary Evidence
Reaction to Committee Report
Parliament Now Fully Engaged in Access Debate
Threat to night time access
Confusion on Outdoor Education

Is Trespass Illegal in Scotland ?
Commercial Activities in the Hills?
Needs of the people, not just Skibo's guests
Access to Balmoral Estate secured

Passing of Bill welcomed
What happens now?
Royal Assent given to Act

Previous events

Draft Land Reform (Scotland) Bill -
Consultation Paper
MCofS response
Petition taken to Parliament

With the Land Reform Act having been passed and received Royal Assent, we come to the final step before the new laws come into effect, The Scottish Outdoor Access Code has to be written.

The Act places a duty on Scottish Natural Heritage to produce and promote the code to provide guidance on responsible behaviour for recreational users and land managers.

SNH have now published a draft of the code for public consultation. As with the earlier consultation on the draft Land Reform Bill, responses from recreational walkers and climbers will have a great effect on what is finally included in the Code, and we would encourage as many people as possible to read the draft code and submit their comments to SNH. The consultation period will run until 30th June 2003.

The MCofS urges all its members, and other walkers and climbers, to send in their personal and club responses, using their own words. In writing your letters it is important to clearly state your interests in the outdoors as it helps those reading your letter if they know from the first paragraph that you are, for example, a hillwalker with 40 years experience, or a climber living in a Highland village. We hope our advice here helps to guide you towards the most relevant parts of the draft Code, but would stress that responses need to be in your own words.

The consultation document is available to download from the SNH website as follows:

The consultation document ( pdf - 1.8mb )
or
The consultation document ( webpage version )

Other documents available to download are
Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003
Developing the Access Code - pdf - 96k
The consultation process - pdf - 92k
Summary of the Access legislation - pdf - 104k

There is also an online forum where the issues can be discussed here, and responses can be made by e-mail to soac-consultation@snh.gov.uk.

Access Forum Consultation

SNH have also produced a consultation document on the future development of the National Access Forum which is also enshrined in the Land Reform Act
Access Forum Consultation Document - pdf - 104k