The Right to Roam

29th August 2025

The best thing about Scotland isn’t its castles or whisky, but rather our “Right to Roam”. It is the freedom to go outside and wander almost anywhere you please, allowing you to walk, cycle, paddle, camp, and more all over Scotland’s land and waterways.

Of course, there are rules to follow, but the gist is simple: Enjoy and respect the land around you and be a conscientious member of the outdoors community. Follow the Outdoor Access Code and leave no trace, and you can go anywhere.

The History of the Right to Roam

This freedom makes Scotland wild and open in a way few other countries can match, but it hasn’t always been this way. Our history as a people has been greatly impacted by land ownership, especially in the Highlands, where the clearances took place between 1750 and 1860. In this dark time in Scotland’s past, the people who lived on the land were forcibly removed and replaced by sheep by the landowners, who could make more profit from livestock. This, along with a whole host of other socio-political factors over the years, made land ownership and freedom of movement a hot topic in Scotland. The right to roam was established by the Land Reform Act of 2003, before which, people could only enjoy the outdoors at the discretion of the landowners.

Why it Matters

Open access to the land means that everyone can enjoy the outdoors, benefiting the community’s health and wellbeing immensely. It comes down to a foundational belief that our country belongs to us, and so long as we respect it and others, we should be free to ramble wherever we like.

There are ongoing movements in other parts of the UK to try to achieve the same levels of freedom enjoyed in Scotland. Hopefully, it is only a matter of time until this is possible.

Tips for Travellers

As a visitor to Scotland, you enjoy the same freedoms as native Scots, and with that freedom comes the responsibility to look after our beautiful country while you are here. We recommend you, at the very least, take a walk in the outdoors during your trip to Scotland. Cycling and horse riding are also options for the more adventurous travellers. Hunting, shooting and fishing are not included in the right to roam; however, Away from the Ordinary can arrange for you to partake in these country sports with the correct guides and permissions. You can find the full set of rules on the Scottish Outdoor Access Code’s website, but here are the basic principles:

Respect the Interests of Others
Care for the Environment
Be Responsible for Your Own Actions
Leave No Trace

Some Good Places to Roam

While the beauty of the Right to Roam is that you can go anywhere, there are some excellent, well-established walking ways across Scotland. These can be enjoyed as multi-day hikes, or you can walk one short section of any of these paths. We could write a whole article about walks with beautiful views in Scotland, but here are three examples to get you started:

West Highland Way

The West Highland Way is a 96-mile route starting just outside of Glasgow in Milngavie and winding through moors and passes to finish amongst the highest mountains in the UK, in Fort William. The scenery is spectacular, and only gets better as you travel northward.

Great Glen Way

From Fort William in the west to Inverness in the east, the Great Glen Way spans an ancient fault line formed roughly 430-390 million years ago. It can be completed by foot, by bike, and even by boat, due to the combination of natural lochs and the creation of the Caledonian Canal, designed by Thomas Telford in the 1800s.

John Muir Way

Opened in 2014 to mark the centenary of his death, the John Muir Way stretches from Helensburgh to Dunbar, the birthplace of Muir. Often referred to as the “father of national parks” in the USA, the Scottish-born conservationist’s legacy continues to have an effect here today. The route showcases the scenery in the central belt of Scotland, which, despite being home to over 70% of Scotland’s entire population, boasts an easily accessible natural environment and plenty of refreshment stops along the way.

To explore Scotland’s wild lands for yourself, speak to our team of travel experts here at Away from the Ordinary. We curate bespoke, luxury itineraries, and can tailor your plan to the level of adventure you desire.