Bushcraft Basics Ep04: Land Access Scotland

Description

In this video we have a look at the Land Access Laws including Wild Camping in Scotland.

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Useful Links:

Scottish Outdoor Access Code - http://www.outdooraccess-scotland.com/

Visit Scotland - http://www.visitscotland.com/see-do/activities/walking/outdoor-access-code

Wild Camping Dartmoor - http://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/43909/vi-camping_map_309.pdf

Pitch Up - https://www.pitchup.com/wild-camping/

Rights of Way - https://www.gov.uk/right-of-way-open-access-land/overview

Natural England - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england

Ordnance Survey - http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/

Just some of the Places you can visit:

Brecon Beacons - http://www.breconbeacons.org/

Exmoor National Park - http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk

Lake District - http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/

Scotland - http://www.visitscotland.com/about/nature-geography/national-parks/

Tags: woodland,forest,mountains,river,lake,tinder,Survival,Bushcraft,survivor,knife,knives,valley,axe,camping,tent,footwear,hunting,fishing,backpack,clothing,boots,primitive,nature,shelter,shooting,shotgun,rifle,rucksack,flashlight,torch,craft,plants,trees,education,wilderness,family,hobbies,fun,animals,game

Video Transcription

hi there guys is Mike from MC ki bushcraft here and welcome to episode 4 of bushcraft basic skills in last week's episode we had a look at open access land in England and Wales and hopefully from that episode it's opened up a few opportunities for people shape them at some of the larger national parks they can go to and also how to to find common lands and open access woodlands in their area there are some really beautiful landscapes around to explore here in England and Wales and it really just takes a little bit of get-up-and-go to be able to go out and actually find those places and you can have some amazing experiences really beautiful places but in this week's episode episode 4 we're going to be having a look at land access and wild camping in Scotland and Scotland really is the exception here in the British Isles it has probably some of the most liberal land access laws for people who wish to explore the outdoors and wild camp in the world it's an amazing place with some some real wilderness here in the British Isles it's the place to be really if you want to see vast open spaces see some beautiful ancient forests there are lakes and rivers up there and just some incredible mountainous terrain it really is something else in the laws to accompany them fantastic and the laws really surround the land reform after were based upon the land reform act 2003 for Scotland which allows people the right to access almost all land and water up there and that extends to wild camping as well and not just for a single light it can be for several days with these access laws do come responsibilities of course and most of them revolve around common sense and not invading people's privacy so things like private gardens are off limits land with crops on is off limits glassy you could damage the farmers crops paying attractions or be off limits you have to be mindful of deer stalking there's a lot of deer stalking in the highlands and some of the

larger forests and national parks and in the mountains and the hills and you don't want to get in the people's way you just want to be respectful really not intrude or any shooting or hunting there's also people's privacy to takes into account which is really the big one and if somebody owns a small plot of land it may be your access rights to camp there but you might want to take into account the person who owns it and how they feel about it and just ask them see whether there's a good place to camp it may be all right to camp there for several days but to take them into account is a nice thing to do it's just about being a decent person their kids may be playing outside they may make a living there they may be moving livestock around and you might be in the way so if by moving you off out the way somewhere they can get on with their work in peace so things like farm yards estates or not not such as snakes but industrial estates or areas where there's a lot of work taking place and you're interfering with that work by camping there then you really shouldn't be in that respect and you could be moved on obviously if you're intruding on people's privacy so a lot of it is common sense but there's so much or such a vast area of wilderness out there and it's so beautiful that there are so many areas where you can just go out the way of everything and not have to worry but a lot of it comes down to your behavior as well if you're behaving very poorly and is a huge group of you let's say this 12 of you you've got a lot of alcohol you're making a huge bonfire you're making a lot of noise then you could be invading people's privacy like that and if you're near a lot of other residents and you're on a smaller property than you could be moved on you're not going to be thrown behind bars unless you cause serious criminal damage like you are all over the country but even in the UK even in England and Wales in Scotland you're not really going to be banged up you'll just be asked to move on a lot of the time if you're not supposed to be somewhere or someone wants you gone so there are certain responsibilities that come with these wonderful liberal access laws they have up in the highlands and provided you're respectful and then no problems will ever come of it but there is an exception and it's Loch Lomond Loch Lomond there's a picture s area and it got very popular a very good accessibility via vehicle so you could park up and obviously walk into the area and a lot of people have parties there and things got out of hand over a period of time lot of litter a lot of booze filled camping events and parties and such and tree felling large fires things got out of control and unfortunately they introduced a new bylaw and it's really a very new thing this bylaw and it put a seasonal ban on wild camping from the 1st of March for the 3rd to the 31st of October between dreimann and rewardin and which is about a mile long stretch of the LOC and Rangers patrol the area and if you're caught you'll find up to 500 pounds and you're moved on so it just shows what irresponsible behavior will do and it it has a knock-on effect for everybody because all those people who went there and enjoyed the area respectfully now come in a time of year where they wished you know they may wish to do so so I hope this videos helped out on some of the access laws up in the highlands of some of the most liberal laws that I've experienced when traveling around even in different parts of the world that the laws up there are a fantastic really very liberal compared to some and you also have the ability to make fire up there as well provided its small and controlled and you're doing it at the right times of year but a wood-burning stove is advised but fire is something we'll touch on later down the line and we actually start making fires if you want a bit of guidance on the do's and don'ts while you're up there exploring Highlands have a look at the description below you'll find the Scottish outdoor access code in there and that provide you some very very good points when you're up there doing your thing and wild camping but it goes back to laws as well if you're respectful and a lot of things remain the way they are and you can have a fantastic time out there but I often find laws are a lot like old nails in pieces of wood they rarely come back out when they've been hammered in so it's best to hang on to what we've got and be respectful as sad as it can be in some respects and just enjoy what we can but in next week's episode we're going to have a look at Northern Ireland we're gonna have a look at the land access laws up there and that will really be the final episode on land access in the British Isles after that we will move on to Kit building starting with backpacks and I've got a whole range of backpacks to show you so thanks again for watching guys I appreciate you checking out this video and I hope it's been useful and I'll see you very soon in another episode take care you