How to Use this Page. #

These are not guidebooks about which path to follow or what hills to climb, these are books that cover the management and development of outdoor access.

Publications are grouped by subject area and then by decade.

Each entry follows the same layout and is organised thus:

Author, (Year of publication), Title, Publisher, followed by a paragraph about the book. This may be the advertising paragraph from the book cover or a short review.

Where possible a weblink is included, but some of the publications are not available online so you will need to use your favourite bookseller to get a copy. Some are no longer in print so you may need to go to a real bricks and mortar library to find a copy.

The Tourism and Rural Initiatives Consultancy Ltd (1994) Enjoying the Outdoors A Summary Report on Responses to the Consultation Paper. Scottish Natural Heritage. ISBN: 1 85397 055 7 #

In January 1993, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) published a consultation paper Enjoying the Outdoors’ concerning arrangements for access to the countryside. SHN circulated this paper to national organisations and also to local interests, such as community, land management and recreation groups. Views were also sought from the general public. Almost 500 responses were received, providing a very wide range of opinions on possible ways of improving the present arrangements and much useful information about local access issues.

The Tourism and Rural Initiatives Consultancy Ltd reviewed the responses and this report presents their main findings and summarises the key issues and suggestions that have been raised across the range of responses.

Scottish Natural Heritage (1994) Enjoying the Outdoors A Programme for Action. Scottish Natural Heritage. ISBN 1 85397 099 9 #

When Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) came into being in April 1992 it inherited from one of its predecessor bodies, the Countryside Commission for Scotland, a major review of the present arrangements for access to the countryside for enjoyment of the outdoors. The Commission had completed a number of research studies; it had consulted many of the key user groups, as well as other organisations and individuals; and it had established a broadly-based Technical Advisory Group to give advice and debate key issues.

In taking this Review forward, SNH drew upon these studies and continued the consultation process. In January 1993 we published a discussion paper, Enjoying the Outdoors, which invited responses from national and local organisations and local interests and the general public. Some 14,000 copies of this paper were circulated and attracted almost 500 responses, some of them long and closely argued. 

Given the many and varied demands upon the countryside for access. the broad outcome of the consultation was that the present arrangements for recreational access to the countryside are not as satisfactory as they could be and that improvements are now urgently required.

This Paper is a starting point for action and for continued joint working between the key organisations in promoting open-air recreation. It is not a detailed blueprint, because different parts of Scotland require different approaches which can build on the broad policies set out in the Paper.

The Access Forum (1996) Scotland’s Hills and Mountains: A Concordat on Access. Scottish Natural Heritage ISBN: None #

The parties to the break-through Concordat on Access came together because there is an urgent need for co-operation between the different users of hill land. The aim was to establish a better understanding between various interests in order to promote tolerance and encourage co-operation.

The Concordat recognised the long-standing tradition of access to hill land in Scotland, cherished by all who use the hills and long accepted by landowners and managers where this freedom is exercised with responsibility. As more people went to the hills, there was a growing need to encourage sensitive management and recreational practice.  The Concordat aims to ensure that people can continue to enjoy access to the open hill in a way which shows consideration for the interests of others.

The Access Forum (1997) A Public Report on Progress 1996-97. Scottish Natural Heritage ISBN: 1 85397 283 5 #

A review of the work of the Access Forums during this period.

The Access Forum (1998) Rights and Responsibilities in the Countryside A Review of Access for Open Air Recreation. Scottish Natural Heritage. ISBN: None #

A leaflet inviting people to contribute to a request by Government to consult relevant bodies on appropriate changes to the law relating to access.  The request follows the Manifesto commitment to give people greater freedom to enjoy the countryside. The leaflet includes some 1997 statistics on access to the countryside, rights of way and land cover in Scotland.

The Access Forum (1998) Access to the Countryside: The Access Forum’s Advice. The Access Forum. ISBN: None. #

The Access Forum, which consists of two fora – the Access Forum and the Access Forum (Inland Water) – was given the challenging task of advising Scottish Natural Heritage, and through them Government, on the changes required to the law in order to provide the public with greater freedoms to enjoy Scotland’s countryside.Following wide consultation, the Forum reached a consensus on a right of access, exercised responsibly, for informal recreation and passage that also recognises the need for much greater effort in encouraging responsible behaviour and on providing practical help to land managers.  This report sets out that broad package.

Scottish Natural Heritage (1998) Access to the Countryside for Open-Air Recreation Scottish Natural Heritage’s Advice to Government. Scottish Natural Heritage ISBN: 1 85397 019 0 #

The Access Forum, which consists of two fora – the Access Forum and the Access Forum (Inland Water) – was given the challenging task of advising Scottish Natural Heritage, and through them After extensive and rigorous debate. the Access Forum advised Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) that the best way to meet the Government’s wish to create greater freedom for people to enjoy the countryside was to change the law to create a right of access.  This report is the Access Forum’s advice, with a brief commentary which highlights the main conclusions endorsed by SNH, along with some additional points and some of the implications to be borne in mind in the next stages of preparing detailed proposals for consideration by the Scottish Parliament.

The Access Forum (1997) A Public Report on Progress 1996-97. Scottish Natural Heritage ISBN: 1 85397 Scottish Executive (1999) Land Reform Proposals for Legislation. The Stationery Office. ISBN: 0 10 888001 X #

The White Paper that led to the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003