Access rights in the UK
The UK is not one country when it comes to access law — it is four. Whether you can lawfully leave the path, pitch a tent or let the dog run depends on which side of a line on the map you are standing. Here is the whole picture, nation by nation.
The four regimes at a glance
| Nation | Right to roam | Paths network | Wild camping | Dogs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | YesStatutory right of responsible access to most land and inland water | Core paths plus the general access right | YesWild camping is broadly lawful under the 2003 Act | Covered by the access right if under proper control; short lead on moorland April–July. |
| England | ConditionalRight to roam only on mapped CRoW open access land | Public rights of way recorded on definitive maps | ConditionalPermission needed — except on the Dartmoor commons | Lead of 2 m or less on access land 1 March – 31 July, and always near livestock. |
| Wales | ConditionalRight to roam only on mapped CRoW open access land | Public rights of way recorded on definitive maps | Permission neededPermission needed everywhere | Short lead on access land 1 March – 31 July, and always near livestock. |
| Northern Ireland | Permission neededNo general right to roam | Very few recorded rights of way; mostly permissive routes | Permission neededPermission needed everywhere | Landowner sets the rules — leads usually required; some routes exclude dogs. |
Each nation links to a full breakdown: the law behind the headline, seasonal restrictions, dog rules and key legislation. These summaries are general information, not legal advice — local byelaws and restrictions can override the general position.
Wild camping: where it is actually legal
Scotland's access right, the Dartmoor commons ruling, Loch Lomond's permit zones — and how asking permission works everywhere else.
ToolAccess checker
Enter a grid reference or coordinates and see which nation's access law — and which national park rules — apply at that point.
TrackerWhat has changed, and what is unsettled
Recent rulings, the questions still genuinely open, and a month-by-month calendar of the seasonal restrictions across all four nations.
GuideMOD firing ranges: check before you walk
Live firing closes access on northern Dartmoor, Otterburn, Warcop, Mynydd Epynt and two famous stretches of coast path. Where the MOD publishes each range's firing times, and what the red flags mean.
The law is moving — we track it
Access law in Britain is not settled history; two of its biggest questions have moved recently, and one is still in motion.
In Darwall v Dartmoor National Park Authority [2025] UKSC 20, decided on 21 May 2025, the Supreme Court unanimously confirmed that the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985 gives the public a right to backpack camp on the Dartmoor commons. That makes the commons the only place in England where you can wild camp as of right —the full story is in our wild-camping guide.
Thousands of miles of historic paths in England and Wales are missing from the definitive maps, and the statute book still sets 1 January 2031 as the cut-off for registering them. In December 2024 the Government committed to repealing the deadline entirely — but as of August 2026 that repeal has not been enacted, so the 2031 date remains law until legislation passes. We update the nation pages as the position changes; each one carries a last-reviewed date.