The Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament on 29 January 2026 and is now awaiting Royal Assent. This is a wide‑ranging piece of legislation designed to protect and restore Scotland’s natural environment. The Bill introduces statutory biodiversity targets, updates National Park legislation, strengthens deer management powers, and creates new tools for wildfire, muirburn, and forestry regulation.
Although much of the Bill focuses on nature’s recovery and land management, several changes may influence public access and responsible practice in Scotland’s great outdoors.
New Enforcement Tools for Byelaws
The Bill gives Scottish Ministers powers to make regulations for issuing fixed penalty notices for offences under National Park byelaws. This is a new enforcement mechanism designed to support responsible behavior and reduce environmental harm.
If these powers are exercised, such regulations could affect:
- Irresponsible camping
- Damaging fires
- Disturbance of wildlife
- Breaching seasonal or site‑specific restrictions
These changes may influence how National Parks manage high-use locations and sensitive conservation areas.
Deer Management
The Bill introduces multiple sections into the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996.
A large part of the Bill deals with deer management and its impact on habitats. While not directly about access rights, these provisions may have practical consequences regarding access:
- Where and when the shooting takes place
- The need for clearer public information about safety
- Discussions surrounding access rights while these management operations occur
The Bill sits within a broader effort to make Scotland “nature positive” by 2030 and to restore ecosystems by 2045. These commitments, now legally binding, appear likely to accelerate large‑scale restoration projects, including woodland expansion, wetland protection, and peatland recovery.
As a result, access users may see:
- More temporary path diversions
- New interpretive signage
- Increased need for public guidance on responsible access
This does not change the legal duty landowners already have to manage their land responsibly and respect public access rights.
ScotWays welcomes environmental restoration projects, and we will continue to support access authorities and land managers to encourage responsible public access. This all accords with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, which has care for the environment amongst its key principles.
Overall, the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill largely focuses on strengthening the policy framework for nature’s recovery.
For ScotWays, this legislation reinforces the importance of:
- Clear, trusted information for the public
- Monitoring how new byelaws and management powers are implemented
- Working with National Park Authorities
- Protecting access while also supporting nature recovery
As ever, we continue to defend access rights and help ensure that responsible access remains central to Scotland’s future.
The Bill, as passed, can be found here: