Access in Scotland
Access Rights in Scotland
The SCA played a key role in helping develop the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, which together form the basis of our responsible right of access to most land and inland waters. The access arrangements in Scotland work on the basis of balancing rights and responsibilities. The SCA has condensed the relevant rights and responsibilities for canoeists in the Paddlers' Access Code that is available as a leaflet, as well as on this website. SCA policy has been not to devise or agree specific versions of this leaflet for individual rivers, lochs and canals.
The SCA does not enter into agreements with landowners that restrict access to water, as we believe paddlesport is a legitimate activity and paddlers are entitled to make their own decisions about when and where to paddle. Individual clubs and other organisations are free to make their own agreements with landowners, but it must be made clear to the landowners that these only apply to the specific club or individuals involved, and not other paddlers in general. Some landowners and their representatives may try to deter paddlers claiming that there is "an agreement" with the SCA to control paddling. No such agreements exist at present, but please let the office know if you are challenged in this way, as we are aware that there may be some misunderstandings from times past that require quick resolution.
The SCA is willing to pass on landowners' comments on other uses of lochs and rivers and preferred paddling times in order that paddlers can make their decisions based on a full knowledge of that particular stretch of water. The SCA will also negotiate about access and egress points to water (particularly where vehicle access is concerned) and paddlers are asked in the interests of good relations to use these where they have been established.
Encounter an Access Problem?
Please fill in this form to inform us of any issues you come across.
For further information on any current access issues, please visit Known Access Issues.
Access Advisories
Paddlers Code
Access Committee
The committee consists of the following SCA members:
- Gavin Millar
- Grant Dolier
- Andy Dorin
Access Committee Members coordinate access issues within their local region and liaise with the relevant SCA Regional Officers, Local Access Advisors and other access volunteers. The Access Committee really needs some new volunteers so if you're interested in getting involved please get in touch to find out more.
Access Advisors
The current Scottish white water guide book describes some 360 rivers. In addition, Scotland has hundreds of miles of coast and innumerable lochs. It is not possible for everyone within the SCA to have current knowledge about all of these sites and for this reason the SCA appoints Access Advisors who are interested in and knowledgeable with regard to a particular stretch of water.
Purpose:
- To be a point of contact for information for paddlers, landowners, local authorities etc. regarding a particular river, loch or area of coast. The main areas of knowledge and information being access, safety and environment
- To support the SCA to assist paddlers who are planning to use a particular stretch of water or area
- To identify and bring matters of interest/concern to be decided by the Access Committee and/ or Environment Committee
- To represent the SCA locally and be an ambassador for the SCA and British Canoeing
Environment Committee
To contact the Environment Committee please email: roger.holmes@canoescotland.org
The committee consists of the following SCA members:
- Alison McLachlan
- Eddie Palmer
- Rachel Hannan
- Graham Bull
Stanley Gate Code
An arrangement is in place for SCA members to access the River Tay at Stanley through a locked gate. To find out the current code, please register to receive the code through the JustGo system
here. More information on the process can be found
here.
Please
do not share this code with others and ensure the gate is locked at all times before and after use.
SCA Renewable Energy Policy
The SCA responds to numerous consultation exercises for hydro electric generating proposals each year and our interest in protecting our best rivers can, and does, lead to us getting involved in discussions with hydro developers. The SCA believes that a Renewable Energy Policy is a means of helping us to communicate our thoughts on the issues surrounding renewable energy generation to developers, policy makers and politicians. By having this policy it should help the renewables industry to understand our position and hopefully encourage earlier consultation.
Whilst most renewable energy proposals that impact on canoeable waters are run of river hydro schemes at the current time, the emphasis will swing at some point in the future to our estuaries, coasts and open seas. This is already starting to happen. Our adopted Renewable Energy Policy recognises this likely future switch and addresses all forms of water based renewable energy production.
The SCA wishes to thank all those who contributed their thoughts in in our lengthy consultation period that has led to this adopted policy.
