Outdoor access and greenspace

Scotland's outdoors, from the greenspaces in our towns to the remote and wild areas of land and water in the Highlands, provides great opportunities for open-air recreation and education. Open-air recreation and good quality, accessible greenspace are essential to our health and well-being, and are important to Scotland's economy.

Outdoor access

The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 established statutory access rights. Everyone can exercise these rights, provided they do so responsibly, over most land and inland water in Scotland. These rights are part of Scotland's identity, are on a par with rights available in Scandinavia and underpin our rural economy.

It is important that these rights are supported and reinforced through good planning and development. We've published a report on outdoor access and the planning system   which provides advice and guidance, and details of 9 case studies.

Greenspace

Greenspace includes places like playing fields, parks, allotments, cemeteries, woodlands and open areas within and on the edge of cities, towns and villages.

Good quality, accessible greenspace provides great opportunities for open-air recreation, for education and for improving people's health and well-being. Networks of linked, good quality greenspace are also important for their contribution to landscape character and have a key role to play in conserving and enhancing biodiversity.

Together, they make an important contribution to a greener and healthier Scotland and should be promoted and safeguarded through  development planning and management.

Planning Authorities should take a strategic and long term approach to managing open space. They should assess both current and future needs through an open space audit and strategy and protect open spaces that can help meet that need.

Further information

• Find out more about green networks, habitat networks and development planning  
• How much open space do we have?