Encouraging responsible access to the countryside

All rubbish – wet clothes, food, tents, camping supplies, disposable barbecues, nappies and even human waste – needs to be taken home with you. Our rangers and volunteers spend hundreds of hours removing these things from the landscape to protect nature and improve the experience of other visitors.

Creating ‘rock art’ has become more popular, where people stack stones into towers or arrange them in various patterns. While this may seem harmless, the practice can unknowingly disturb precious habitats and creates lasting disruption in the area.

While many locations have a special place in people’s hearts and they may want to leave a marker for someone dear to them, it’s important to protect the natural beauty and wildlife of these places. Physical markers may inadvertently harm wildlife, so we encourage people to think of other ways to leave a tribute to loved ones.

Find out more about Giving in memory

There has been an increase in people cutting down and burning precious trees and deadwood to make campfires, which can cause irreparable damage to fragile habitats. Not only is this vandalism, but it is also often pointless – damp and living wood doesn’t burn well.

Fire safety is becoming extremely important, especially as Scotland’s temperatures rise and amount of rainfall decreases. We ask people to never light an open fire during prolonged dry periods or in areas like forests, woods, farmland or on peaty ground. Dousing a fire with a few bottles of water, or letting it go out by itself, simply isn’t sufficient to safely extinguish it – they can still reignite days later. 

BBQs can also be very dangerous, especially disposable ones, so we always encourage people to use a properly supervised camping stove. 

We also ask people not to drop ashes or cigarette ends, which can set dry vegetation alight. Glass bottles and broken glass can also act as a magnifying glass for the sun – please take all rubbish home with you.

Many countryside locations are most easily accessed by car, but this is not always the only way to get there. Car parks can become very busy, and people choose to park dangerously on busy roadsides and verges, increasing the chances of collisions and damage. 

Before travelling, check whether there are public transport options like trains, buses or shuttles – these can also remove some of the stress of the visit. Have a plan in place if parking isn’t available at your first choice of location.