Scottish Access Rights: The National Park Camping By-Law

  • 28th Jan 2016

The Scottish Government has approved the plan to introduce a by-law to restrict camping around several lochs in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. This has been greeted in some quarters with relief but there is also much discontent amid concerns that the by-law could be the start of a slippery slope that means trouble for Scotland's 'right to roam' access rights. For a government that is all for putting more control of the land into the hands of the people, is this really a step in the right direction or is it a retrograde step? Many who love wild camping in Scotland are concerned that this could threaten their options across the country, not just those in the areas covered by the by-law.

The new by-law is not a blanket ban on camping in the park. Only 3.7% of the park is affected, three zones where camping will be strictly regulated along the sides of lochs throughout the park where criminal and inconsiderate campers have been a seasonal problem in recent years, leaving litter, damaging property and behaving anti-socially under the influence of alcohol. There is no doubt that something had to be done to protect precious environments around this National Park and the rights of local residents. The question is simply: why was new legislation required when our existing laws already cover such behaviour? Authorities need only have made their presence felt and the problem would have been greatly reduced without the need to curtail everyone's freedoms.

The by-law will come into effect next year and will be active between March 1st and 30th September. Fortunately for those of us who wish to enjoy the bonny banks of Loch Lomond and other Lochs such as Loch Venachar, Loch Lubnaig and Loch Earn peaceably, there will still be possibilities for camping. As part of the plans, 300 low cost camping spots will be introduced and there will be a permit system allowing a sustainable level of loch-side camping. It will be interesting to re-visit this next year and see how the camping situation in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park has altered after the by-law comes into force.

It will also be interesting to see whether the move has any impact on the small number of loutish wild campers who spoil things for the rest of us – will they simply move on to other spots not covered by the by-law and if so, how long will it be before our right to roam is eroded still further and more by-laws spring up at beauty spots across the country?