Camping Management Byelaws Review 2026 – Frequently Asked Questions

First introduced in 2017, the Camping Management Byelaws help manage camping in some of the National Park’s most popular and sensitive areas. They relate to a set of legally enforceable rules for where people may camp overnight, limit the use of fires, and prohibit the removal of deadwood specific areas.

They apply seasonally from 1st March to 30th September and cover specific lochshore areas known as Camping Management Zones. During this time, people wishing to camp in these areas must book a camping permit or stay at a managed campsite.

The Camping Management Byelaws are in place to help protect nature, provide positive experiences for visitors, and support local communities. This contributes to the National Park’s overarching goals of securing a positive future for people, nature, and climate.

The majority of the Park, including upland and remote areas, remains fully open to informal wild camping under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

The byelaws were introduced to protect fragile natural environments, ensure that visitors can camp responsibly, reduce antisocial behaviour and minimise negative impacts on wildlife, landscapes, and the experience of other visitors and residents. The intention has always been to allow camping to continue but in a managed, sustainable form, especially at popular and accessible locations.

They apply only to designated Camping Management Zones that historically experienced the greatest pressures. These areas represent a small portion of the National Park’s land area. The majority of the Park, including upland and remote areas, remains fully open to informal wild camping under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

Yes.

The National Park Authority is required by the Scottish Government to review its Byelaws at periodic intervals. This review, which marks ten years since the Camping Management Byelaws were first introduced on 1st March 2017, forms part of that statutory obligation. The review must be submitted to the Scottish Government by .

The purpose of the review is to ensure that the Byelaws remain effective, proportionate, evidence-based, and fit for purpose, and to consider whether any changes, clarifications, or removals are warranted. Specifically, the review examines whether any amendments are needed, whether any aspects of the Byelaws should be clarified or adjusted, and whether any provisions could be removed.

The review is evidence-led, drawing on a wide range of data and information gathered since the Byelaws were introduced. This includes Ranger patrol data, camping permit records and booking statistics, environmental observations, visitor surveys, and stakeholder input. All of this is brought together and forms the foundation of the review and ensuring that any proposals for change are grounded in robust, real-world evidence. 

The Park Authority routinely reviews the byelaws to ensure they remain effective and proportionate. The current review is examining whether any changes are needed, whether any aspects of the byelaws should be clarified or adjusted, and whether any parts could be removed. This review is evidence-led, drawing on patrol data, permit usage, environmental observations, visitor surveys, and stakeholder input.

The review is examining the existing byelaws to consider whether any changes should be made, whether any new byelaws would be appropriate, and whether any existing provisions could be amended or removed. The emphasis is on assessing the legal wording, operational clarity, and regulatory purpose of the byelaws themselves.

Certain related but separate visitor-management issues are not part of this byelaw review. For example, decisions about constructing new camping facilities, reviewing the design and layout of permit areas, addressing littering or human waste infrastructure, or creating wider strategies for motorhome and campervan management, are not being considered as part of this review. These matters are handled through other workstreams and operational programmes.

The review is being informed by 10 years of robust data from Ranger patrols, camping permit records, booking statistics, and both quantitative and qualitative information gathered by the Park Authority. Environmental data, visitor trends, and lessons since the introduction of the byelaws will also be incorporated.

Camping is still available in the designated areas via the Camping Permit Scheme for tents and motorhomes, and through low-cost campsites managed by the National Park. These are supported by signage, Ranger services, online booking, and behaviour-change communication designed to help visitors understand and follow the requirements for responsible camping.

Following the evidence-gathering and statutory review process, proposals relating to the byelaws will be developed and prepared for wider engagement and a formal public consultation. After that stage and following consideration by the National Park Authority Board and relevant Scottish Government processes, any proposed changes be finalised.

In late 2025, the Park engaged with 43 stakeholders across nine workshop sessions, including community councils, visitor management groups, landowners, outdoor recreation organisations, conservation bodies, and operational partners. These groups brought varied perspectives, ranging from community experience to environmental expertise, and generated rich qualitative input for review.

The workshops told us there is strong and consistent support for continuing the byelaws, with many stakeholders saying they have transformed problematic loch-shore behaviour and protected key sites. Some stakeholders shared that their confidence in the management of byelaws has increased since 2017. Some stakeholders were unpersuaded that byelaws were necessary or proportionate, but none argued strongly that they should be removed rather than refined.

Since the Camping Byelaws introduction, the vast majority of the almost 300,000 campers who have visited the Camping Management Zones (over 97%) have camped responsibly.

Satisfaction with the permit areas has consistently remained around or above 90%, with many visitors saying they would recommend the experience.

Although behaviour has improved dramatically, some issues persist. These include littering and waste disposal at informal sites, occasional inappropriate fires, and camping just outside the byelaw boundaries. Ranger presence continues to be critical for maintaining compliance, particularly during evenings, weekends, and peak holiday periods.

We are acutely aware that fire poses a significant threat to the National Park’s nature and landscape, as well as to those who live, work and visit. This is a threat which is unfortunately increasing in scale and frequency, due to the impacts of climate change and increased human activity.

In relation specifically to our proposed changes to the fire restrictions as part of this byelaw review and consultation, we are proposing to strengthen the existing Byelaws relating to fires by ensuring that any campfire is raised off the ground and contained within a fire pit or bowl.

In addition, visitors would be required to extinguish a fire if asked to by a Ranger or other authorised officer. This would allow the Park Authority to put in place a no fire approach at times of high/extreme fire risk in these busiest areas of the National Park. 

We recognise that the popularity of motorhomes and campervans has increased significantly in recent years, and that some of the negative impacts of this have been felt in parts of the National Park.

The Camping Byelaws are limited in both their geographic scope and application as to the range of issues they can be used to address.

Having considered these limitations, our proposal is to continue with the current byelaw position as having a limited effect to address the issue is preferable to having no provision at all.

Some communities believe that the byelaws have pushed camping into areas just outside the management zones. While these perceptions are real, stakeholders acknowledge that strong evidence of displacement is limited. The National Park Authority continues to gather and analyse data to better understand regional behaviours and impacts. National partners are sceptical of displacement evidence. 

The timing of the Byelaws (1^st March – 30^th September) was chosen taking into account the busiest times of the year, weather patterns, and the Easter holidays which sometimes fall in March. The peak months for camping permits and campsite bookings are May to August. This is also when most enforcement activities happen.

Although March and September are quieter, warm weather spikes and the timing of the Easter Bank Holiday weekend can attract a higher volume of campers.

Although we are currently proposing no changes to this area, the purpose of the public consultation is to hear from a wider range stakeholders to ensure we have considered all points of view. If new areas or new evidence is raised that we have not already considered, they will be included in our consultation analysis. If the points raised are able to pass the same assessment principles we have applied to the topics reviewed so far, they could be included within the final Byelaws presented to the Park Authority Board in September.

Once all responses to the 12-week public consultation have been analysed, the National Park Authority will make recommendations to Scottish Government Ministers by 1 March 2027. Any agreed changes are anticipated to come into effect from 1 March 2028.