5.Part I of the Act is intended to give greater freedom for people to explore open countryside. It contains provisions to introduce a new statutory right of access for open-air recreation to mountain, moor, heath, down and registered common land. It also includes a power to extend the right to coastal land by order, and enables landowners voluntarily to dedicate irrevocably any land to public access.
6.There will be restrictions on the new right — for example, the Act includes provisions for landowners to exclude or restrict access for any reason for up to 28 days a year, and to exclude dogs on grouse moors and in small fields during lambing time, without seeking permission. Landowners will also be able to seek further exclusions or restrictions on access for reasons of land management, fire prevention and to avoid danger to the public. The Countryside Agency (in Wales, the Countryside Council for Wales — together referred to as the countryside bodies) and in national parks, the National Park authorities, will be able to give directions for these purposes and, in addition, will be able to direct the exclusion or restriction of access on grounds of nature and heritage conservation. The Act also includes provisions for further restrictions on dogs on access land.
Introduction Summary