Planning and Developing Trails and Routes - Tourism and Trails: Cultural, Ecological and Management Issues - page 176

research has shown that relatively few countryside recreationists have any
desire to leave designated trails (Mansley, 2000), and most landowners have
been placated since 2000.
The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 made legal the age-old right to free
public access to the lands of Scotland. Preceding that, the Countryside
(Scotland) Act 1967 was the primary legal mechanism that oversaw outdoor
recreation in Scotland. The 2003 Act allows universal non-motorized access
(e.g. swimming, camping, rowing, canoeing, hiking, cycling and horseback
riding) to land for recreation, education and various other purposes, as well
as individual rights to traverse someone's property if done respectfully and
responsibly (Flegg, 2004; Mackay, 2007; Morrow, 2005). Like the Countryside
and Rights of Way Act 2000, the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 has
encouraged more people to appreciate the outdoors and has been instrumen-
tal in the development of more official trails and footpaths - often desig-
nated as Long Distance Routes (LDRs), throughout rural Scotland.
Most of the Nordic countries of Europe have ancient 'freedom to roam'
traditions that recognize countryside use as a universal right, although in
some cases it has been codified into law to protect access to rural areas
(Axelsson-Lindgren & Sorte, 1987). In Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway
(much less so in Denmark), these rights of access provide considerable oppor-
tunities to ramble on trails or off trails, to harvest berries and mushrooms,
fish, pick wildflowers, and even camp on someone else's property (Hall,
2013; Müller & Pettersson, 2001; Sandell & Fredman, 2010). Although there
are some local restrictions, such as the limited number of nights a person can
camp on someone else's land or commercially harvesting berries and mush-
rooms, much of the access remains unfettered. It is common knowledge that
access does not include gardens, houses, or other built-up areas. In Finland,
the principle of jokamiehenoikeus (every man's rights) allows people to walk,
cycle or ski in the countryside anywhere that these activities do not harm
the environment or encroach upon people's homes, gardens, crops or yards.
Recreationists are permitted to harvest mushrooms, flowers and berries or
fish in lakes and ponds; swim, row or sail on waterways; and ski in the
winter (Nylander, 2001; Pouta et al. , 2006). Some of these activities are
restricted by the government, particularly in national parks or other
protected areas. Burning campfires, cutting trees or collecting wood are
generally not permitted on other people's property. Many other countries in
Europe have varying degrees of the freedom to roam, affecting the develop-
ment of trail-based recreation and tourism in many different ways.
Other related programs
There are many programs throughout the world that have policy and
legal backing to help establish various trail systems. For example, the
Queensland Heritage Trails Network was initiated in 2000 through the