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Top 10 tips for visiting our countryside places

A family of two adults and two children walk along a path in Glencoe with Buachaille Etive Mor in the background.
Next time you head to the hills, follow our top 10 tips to protect the places you love.

Our countryside teams across Scotland have come up with their top tips to help you make the most of the time you spend in the great outdoors as well as helping us to protect our much-loved landscapes at the same time.

To ensure you have a great day out, it’s important to plan your trip carefully in advance. You’ll find lots of really useful information about each of our places on our property pages.

1. Come prepared with a Plan B

You may need to move on if it’s too busy or if car parks are full.

2. Pack appropriate clothing and footwear

Weather conditions can change rapidly in the mountains.

3. Park with care

Please do not damage verges or obstruct other vehicles, narrow roads, passing places or field gates.

4. Leave no trace

Please take your litter home and never leave rubbish beside a full bin.

5. Stay on paths to help protect habitats

By avoiding bypassing muddy patches, you’ll reduce the risk of erosion spreading. Need to let someone past? Step to one side, then step back onto the path again.

A footpath on a mountain, with a new footpath starting to appear alongside it.
Path erosion on Ben Lawers

6. Think you may need to ‘go’ while you’re out?

Please come prepared with a bag and sealable container to take away human waste and soiled tissues safely.

7. Choose your camping spot carefully

Give busy areas a rest and take as long to clear up as you take to set up.

8. Use a stove instead of lighting a fire

This will help prevent wildfires, scorched earth and tree damage.

A person walks along a wide path through woodland, with a dog on a lead walking beside them.

9. Keep dogs under control or on a lead

This ensures your dog will avoid disturbing wildlife or livestock.

10. Leave somewhere even better than when you found it

Bring a litter picker and collect any rubbish you spot while you’re out and about!


This advice has been compiled with support from the countryside teams at Balmacara Estate, Ben Lawers NNR, Ben Lomond, Glencoe NNR, Glenfinnan Monument, Goatfell, Grey Mare’s Tail, the Hermitage, Killiecrankie, Kintail, Mar Lodge Estate NNR, St Abb’s Head NNR and Torridon.

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