Access Authority

Under Part 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 there is a right of responsible, non-motorised access, for recreational and other purposes, to most land and inland water throughout Scotland. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code (the Code) sets out how members of the public can exercise these rights responsibly, and also how land can be managed effectively whilst facilitating access rights. The Code also explains where access rights do and don’t apply, and what activities are covered under these rights. 

The right of access only applies if it is exercised responsibly, and the Code provides information on what constitutes responsible behaviour in relation to a variety of circumstances. This includes explanations about how to avoid causing interference with different land management activities. 

National Park Authority Role

Along with other local and national park authorities, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority is known as an ‘Access Authority’ with specific duties and powers to manage the implementation of outdoor access rights in their area. Our four duties are: 

• To uphold access rights  

• To develop a Core Paths Plan 

• To establish a Local Access Forum 

• To promote and publicise the Scottish Outdoor Access Code 

We have powers to help us maintain core paths, but this is not a statutory duty. Therefore, we prioritise the development and maintenance of the paths network in the light of available funding. 

Enquiries and complaints

If you have an enquiry or require some advice relating to outdoor access, please email the team at accessteam@lochlomond-trossachs.org. Similarly, if you wish to raise a concern about a barrier to access (e.g. a locked gate or inappropriate sign), or to seek assistance in the case of persistent, irresponsible behaviour on your land, please send an email, providing as much information as possible, to the same address. 

All complaints will be acknowledged and logged. Please be aware that, depending on the nature and complexity of an issue, cases may take some time to resolve, especially where site visits are required and landowners are unknown.  In all cases, officers will seek to find a solution that balances the rights of access users with the needs of land managers.   Upon closure of any case, everyone who has contacted the Authority in relation to the issue will be notified of the resolution.  Updates will also be issued at 6-monthly intervals where a case is still ongoing. 

Data Protection

Any personal data you provide (name, address, email address and optional telephone number) will only be used in the following ways: 

• Providing your contact details to the relevant officer so that they can contact you to discuss your enquiry or complaint. 

• Sending you acknowledgement and update emails regarding your enquiry/complaint. 

• For future reference. For this reason, we will retain your personal details for 2 years in relation to a general enquiry, and for up to 10 years in relation to an access investigation. 

You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time, should you no longer wish us to retain your details. You can do this by emailing the access team at: accessteam@lochlomond-trossachs.org. 

If you have any queries about your rights under data protection, please email us at info@lochlomond-trossachs.org. 

Local Access Forum 

In line with our duty under the above Act, we have established the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs Access Forum, an independent advisory group of 13 members representing a broad range of access-related interests. These include different recreational activities (such as walking, cycling, horse-riding, and paddle sports), land management, forestry and nature conservation. A member of the Authority’s Board also sits on the Forum, to ensure Board awareness of access matters, but this does not affect the independence of the Forum. 

The Forum provides vital support to both the NPA Access Team and the public. More information about the Forum can be found here. 

Filming and Access Rights

If you are planning a film shoot in the National Park, you must ensure your activities will not unduly affect the public’s access rights, especially on promoted paths and trails. We can work with you to help you manage public access provided you contact us well in advance. If you are planning to film on land owned by the Park Authority itself, a fee may be payable. To enquire about filming in the National Park, please see the Filming in the Park section on our website for advice and relevant contacts. 

Running or Hosting an Event – Suspending Access Rights 

If you are planning to run or host an outdoor event in the National Park, regardless of whether this is on private land or not, please look at our online toolkit which offers advice and guidance regarding permissions, fees and managing public access. 

If you wish to ‘suspend’ public access rights or temporarily block a route that is normally accessible by the public, it may be necessary or expedient to apply for a ‘Section 11 Exemption’. This could be applicable to land or water and is often used where the organisers wish to charge a fee for entry to the event, or to ensure privacy at a private function, or for safety purposes, for example during a motor rally. Alternatively, restricting access to facilitate land management works can usually be addressed through more informal means, such as appropriate signage and site management. 

Please contact us for advice about suspending or restricting access rights at accessteam@lochlomond-trossachs.org, bearing in mind that we require 8 weeks’ notice to process your application in relation to a suspension for 5 days or fewer.  In the case of an application which would have effect for 6 or more days, a minimum 6-month lead time is required.  This is to allow for a statutory public consultation and the required consideration by Ministers. 

For further information, read our application guidance and application form.