A Fine Horse in New Country

Here you can check up on what's available in your area, and how to go about finding out where to ride. Over time, I'd like to build up a resource for all Scottish riders - your contributions and comments are very welcome. Indeed, necessary - I'll never be able to ride all the tracks myself (though I intend to try!) There are some useful sites on the Links page.

Scotland has a huge variety of forestry, moorland and farmland where you can ride, often without seeing another soul. In 2003 the Land Reform Act was passed in Scotland, allowing responsible non-motorised access to most of Scotland's wild land for recreational purposes. Under the legislation, horseriders enjoy the same rights as walkers and mountain bikers. However, this does not mean that all paths, tracks and open land are suitable for riding - there may be locked gates, kissing gates, rickety bridges or bogs to negotiate.

What it does mean is that, generally speaking, you have the right of access (although there are exceptions: land managers can temporarily suspend access to carry out farming or forestry operations, for example). Increasingly, land managed by organisations such as the Forestry Commission and the Scottish national parks Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and the Cairngorms National Park are becoming much more horse-friendly and will advise on parking, suitable routes etc.

In addition, all Scottish Councils are currently drafting their Core Paths Plan, which shows routes in each area where you can ride. Councils also have a ranger service, who will help and advise on routes.

What is responsible access?

It's all common sense (though we know how uncommon that can sometimes be.) Basically:

Take responsibility for your own actions;
Respect people’s privacy and peace of mind. When close to a house or garden, keep a sensible distance from the house, use a path or track if there is one, and take extra care at night;
Help land managers and others to work safely and effectively . Do not hinder land management operations and follow advice from land managers. Respect requests for reasonable limitations on when and where you can go;
Care for your environment. Do not disturb wildlife, leave the environment as you find it and follow a path or track if there is one;
Keep your dog under proper control. Do not take it through fields of calves and lambs, and dispose of dog dirt;
Take extra care if you are organising an event or running a business and ask the land owner’s advice.

For more information on the Land Reform Act and what responsible access means, check out the Scottish Natural Heritage website.


Access problems?
Each council by law must now have an Access Officer, to whom access problems should be reported; eg if a route is blocked or you are unreasonably refused access. It is also worth reporting the problem to the relevant BHS Access Officer: both they and the local authorities may be trying to gather evidence of inappropriate behaviour by land managers. It really is worth doing, even if it doesn't immediately gain you access, it (hopefully) will result in improved access in the future for you and others.

Our experience to date has been that private landowners are generally positive but they can vary in their attitudes to horses! Most are willing to help if you contact them in advance and explain what you would like to do. In order to keep landowners amenable and helpful, we must as a community be considerate: it is their home and their livelihood, after all.