Scottish Access Resources and Riding Routes
HORSE SENSE: Equestrian access in Scotland
Scottish access rights apply to most land and inland water. Whether you’re enjoying the fresh air in a local park, walking the dog, hillwalking, mountain biking, horse riding or kayaking you need to know about your access rights and responsibilities. Scotland’s outdoors is managed by a variety of organisations and BHS Scotland carries out this task on behalf horse riders by providing an advocacy service and sitting on the National Access Forum.
Under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, horse riders and carriage drivers enjoy equal rights of access as walkers, cyclists and other non-motorised users to most land and inland water, day or night, provided that they exercise their rights responsibly. Land managers in turn are obliged to respect equestrian access rights and take proper account of the right of responsible access in managing their land.
If you have any queries about off road access email Helene.Mauchlen@bhs.org.uk
Routes: Riding on Scotland’s Great Trails
Under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, walkers, cyclists and horse-riders all enjoy equal rights to most land and inland water, provided access rights are exercised responsibly. Many horse riders are keen to follow the 26 long distance routes, branded as Scotland’s Great Trails (SGTs). SGTs showcase Scotland’s landscape and natural beauty at its best and in 2018 BHS Scotland audited these trails in order to open them up to more riders.
Annandale Way
Affric Kintail Way
Borders Abbeys Way
Cateran Trail
Clyde Coast Path
Clyde Walkway
Cowal Way
Cross Borders Drove Road:
Developed, managed and promoted as fully multi-use accessible with selfclosing bridlegates or 2-in-1 gates throughout.
Dava Way
Deeside Way
Fife Coast Path
Formatine and Buchan Way
Forth, Clyde and Union Canal
Great Glen Way
Great Trossachs Path (western half)
John Muir Way
Kintyre Way
Moray Coastal Trail
Mull of Galloway Trail
River Ayr Way
Rob Roy Way
Romans and Reivers Route:
Developed, managed and promoted as fully multi-use accessible with selfclosing bridlegates or 2-in-1 gates throughout.
St. Cuthbert’s Way
Southern Upland Way
Speyside Way
Three Lochs Way
West Highland Way