SOAC

Scotland is one of the few European countries with a statutory right of responsible access to most land and inland water, including the right to wild camp. The exception is enclosed agricultural ground (which requires permission), gardens, school grounds, sports facilities, and a small list of statutory exclusions including certain military training areas.

For walkers the key Code points are: take responsibility for your own safety; respect the privacy of others (avoid pitching tents within sight of houses); take responsibility for your own and your dog's behaviour around livestock and ground-nesting birds (between April and August in particular); pack out everything you bring in; respect land-management activities like stalking and forestry operations.

The Loch Lomond & Trossachs Camping Management Zone is the main exception to wild-camping rights. Inside the marked zones — much of the east shore of Loch Lomond and several other areas inside the National Park — wild camping requires a paid permit between March and September. This is a statutory byelaw, not the general access right being withdrawn; the zones cover a small fraction of the National Park.

Dogs under SOAC must be 'under proper control' near livestock and ground-nesting birds — usually on a short lead between April and August in the hills, off-lead permitted on lower ground when livestock-free.