What can you do on open access land?
Open access land is designated for walking and outdoor recreation on foot. This means that you can go:
- Walking
- Dog walking
- Running
- Climbing
- Birdwatching
- or even have a picnic (as long as you take your rubbish home with you…).
As open access land can cover rural businesses and areas of sensitive wildlife, there are a number of activities that you are not allowed to do without the landowner’s permission. These include:
- Walking a dog off the lead around livestock (or between 1 March and 31 July)
- Cycling or horse riding
- Water sports, including swimming or taking a boat onto a river, lake or reservoir
- Driving a motorised vehicle
- Lighting fires or camping
- Shooting, foraging or picking flowers
- Using a metal detector
- Taking part in organised games or commercial activities
- Interfering with activities of farmers or other landowners