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Comment by oh_sigh | Hacker News Reader

99% invisible had a nice podcast on the right to roam(mostly in England): https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/right-to-roam/

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I don't think the "Right to Roam" in England and Wales is quite as extensive as it is here in Scotland - basically we have the right to walk and camp pretty much anywhere as long as you are sensible - don't damage crops and avoid the immediate vicinity of houses.

I'd really miss living somewhere where you can't pretty much wander about anywhere you want.

Edit: To add another cool aspect about the wilder parts of Scotland, there is a network of free accommodation as well:

"To maintain simple shelters in remote country for the use & benefit of all who love wild & lonely places."

https://www.mountainbothies.org.uk/

Beyond public rights of way, the right to roam is limited to defined areas. They are mostly moorland, or steep downland hillsides that are not cropped. It is quite limited in lowland areas and you are not allowed to camp, or use bikes.

The Scandinavia influence is showing: they have allemansrecht.

Growing up in Norway, we were taught from primary school age that we could go pretty much whenever we wanted outside of urban settlements, as long as we behaved sensibly (no stepping on crops, no littering, ensuring you close gates to avoid letting animals loose), and that we could forage for berries or mushrooms without having to ask anyone for permission (fishing and hunting rights do have restrictions). It made it very strange to go elsewhere and realize how much land is fenced in and inaccessible to the public many places.

Also, most of the Beaches in Scotland belong to the people, and not the Crown, like they do in England and Wales. Which means no-one can stop you using them.

I'm not sure if that's true - ownership of the foreshore seems (like many things in Scottish land ownership) quite complex - but the Crown does own about 50% of the foreshore:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/land-reform-review-group-f...

I sit corrected :)

I know someone who met the Queen and Princes Margaret out for a walk from the royal yacht on a beach on the Outer Hebrides - amusingly it looks like the beach they were on isn't owned by the Crown, but I doubt any landowner would argue with them as they had a group of Royal Marines tagging along at a discreet distance.

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