---
title: Right to Roam Timeline
description: The right of responsible access to land and inland water throughout Scotland was groundbreaking when it came into operation in February 2005, but it didn’t just happen. It took centuries. Here’s a list of the different bills, Acts of Parliament…
url: "https://scotways.com/ken/right-to-roam-timeline/"
updated: "2025-06-30"
category: History / History of Access
tags:
  - Access Forum
  - Legislation
  - Outdoor Access History
  - Statutory Access Rights
---

# Right to Roam Timeline

The right of responsible access to land and inland water throughout Scotland was groundbreaking when it came into operation in February 2005, but it didn’t just happen. It took centuries.

Here’s a list of the different bills, Acts of Parliament and some key events leading to our amazing access legislation.

**1845** ScotWays predecessor - The Association for the Preservation of Public Rights of Roadway in and Around Edinburgh was created. [James Bryce](/ken/james-bryce/) would become a Director in future years.

**1865** The [Open Spaces Society](https://www.oss.org.uk/about-us/) was created and one of its supporters was [James Bryce MP](/ken/james-bryce/).

**1884** start of the “Pet Lamb” case. A cause célèbre for a right of access.

**1884** [James Bryce MP](/ken/james-bryce/) introduces Access to the Mountains (Scotland) Bill Clause 2 -" no owner or occupier of uncultivated mountains or moorlands in Scotland shall be entitled to exclude any person from going on such lands for recreation or scientific or artistic study, or to molest him in so walking."

**1887** 2,000 people march on Latrigg, Keswick, Cumberland, protesting the closure of paths to the top.

**1888** Access to the Mountains (Scotland) Bill introduced by [James Bryce](/ken/james-bryce/)

**1888** Mountains, Rivers and Pathways (Wales) Bill supported by [James Bryce](/ken/james-bryce/).

**1892** The first federation of groups of ramblers took place in Glasgow, with the formation of the West of Scotland Ramblers’ Alliance.

**1892** Access to the Mountains (Scotland) (No.2) Bill 26 May 1892. On this occasion, a second reading occurred and the bill was accepted by Government but bogged down at the committee stage. Bryce said in the Commons “The scenery of our country has been filched away from us just when we have begun to desire it more than ever before.”

**1892** The Tory Government introduce their own access to the countryside bill, a diluted version of Bryce’s but still with the essential wording. A general election call in June 1892 stopped it from going further.

**1894** Local Government (Scotland) Act made rights of way the direct responsibility of local authorities. Wording for the duty of the local authority is the same as the Countryside (Scotland) Act 1967 and the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.

**1896** On the path up Winter Hill north of Bolton, Lancashire, there was a mass trespass on 6 September. A memorial stone says “Will You Come O’ Sunday Morning? On this Sunday 6 September, 1896 10,000 Boltonians marched by this spot to reclaim an ancient right of way over Winter Hill. The path is now dedicated as a right of way for the enjoyment of all.”

**1898** Access to the Mountains (Scotland) Bill. The last time [Jame Bryce](/ken/james-bryce/) introduced the Act.

**1900** Access to the Mountains (Scotland) Bill Introduced by Annan Bryce, younger brother of [James Bryce](/ken/james-bryce/).

**1905** Federation of Rambling Clubs formed.

**1906** Access to the Mountains (Scotland) Bill introduced by Annan Bryce.

**1908** Access to the Mountains (Scotland) Bill was introduced by Annan Bryce and supported by Charles Trevelyan. Debated at length in the House of Commons, extended the provisions to the whole of the U.K., got a second reading, An impasse was reached and the House agreed to proceed no further.

**1909** Access to the Mountains Bill introduced by Annan Bryce.

**1924** Countryside Access Bill introduced based on Bryce’s original 1884 version.

**1925** Law of Property Act gives the public the right to walk and ride on certain commons and protect commons from enclosure and encroachment. It thus created the first right of access to land in the U.K. - the Central and Southern Lakeland fells.

**1930** Access to the Mountains Bill.

**1931**Access to the Mountains Bill.

**1931** National Council of Ramblers’ Federation was formed.

**1932** 500 ramblers stage a mass [trespass on Kinder Scout](https://kindertrespass.org.uk) in the Pennines. The leaders are arrested and jailed.

**1935** [Ramblers’ Association](https://www.ramblers.org.uk/about-us/our-history.aspx) formed.

**1937** Access to the Mountains Bill 8 July 1937 introduced by Arthur Creech-Jones

**1938** Access to the Mountains Bill gets a second reading good, makes it through the committee stages and becomes …

**1939** the Access to Mountains Act. The first Act to deal with outdoor access, but it made trespass a criminal offence in certain cases and placed limits on access. Not a good act, but it was never used and didn’t apply to Scotland.

**1939-45** Government encourages “walking in war-time” programme.

**1949** National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act repeals the Access to Mountains Act 1939 and introduces procedures for creating access to land in England and Wales.

**1958**A Royal Commission recommended the public should have a right of access to all common land.

**1967** Countryside (Scotland) Act introduces procedures for creating access land in Scotland powers little if ever, used.

**1978** Access to Commons and Open Country Bill introduced by Arthur Blenkinsop

**1980** Access to Commons and Open Country Bill introduced by David Clark

**1982**Walkers (Access to the Countryside) Bill introduced by Andrew Bennett on the 50th anniversary of Kinder Scout Trespass.

**1983** Access to the Countryside Bill introduced by Andrew Bennett.

**1992** Scottish Natural Heritage ‘Enjoying the Outdoors’ consultation launched.

**1993**Letterewe Accord agreed between the Ramblers, Mountaineering Council of Scotland and estate owner Paul van Vlissengen.

**1994**Freedom to Roam (Access to Countryside) Bill introduced by Margaret Ewing.

**1994**National Access Forum was established.

**1995** Enjoying the outdoors a programme for action: summary of Scottish Natural Heritage's access report published.

**1996** National Access Forum agrees the Access Concordat.

**1996** National Access Forum (Inland Water) was established.

**1997** New Labour Government asked Scottish Natural Heritage to make proposals for new outdoor access legislation.

**1998** Scottish Natural Heritage sets out its proposals in Access to the Countryside for Open Air Recreation.

**1998** Consultation launched on Access to the Open Countryside in England and Wales.

**1999**Scottish Parliament re-established.

**2000** Countryside and Rights of Way Act receives Royal Assent, granting walkers in England and Wales the right to roam over mountain, moor, heath and down

**2001**Draft Land Reform Bill published.

**2001** Foot and Mouth Disease strikes. The effects of the disease were felt much wider than just the farming community which ultimately helped to shape the Land Reform Bill.

**2003** [Land Reform (Scotland) Act](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2003/2/introduction) receives Royal Assent

**2004**[Scottish Outdoor Access Code](https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/doc/scottish-outdoor-access-code) was created.

**2005** Access Rights come into operation on 9 February 2005.

Why not read [A Brief History of Access Rights](/ken/a-brief-history-of-access-rights/) or [The Coming of Access Rights](/ken/the-coming-of-access-rights/)?