Off Roading in Scotland

[xr770a]

Hello all, I'm new to the Forum and to off roading, I have been out 4 times in Scotland and have had grief on all occasions, 1 each from mountain bikers, Police, Land owner and Rambler....I have been using Cycle route 7 and forest trails around Callendar , I am an experienced biker, I do not tear the placeup, scare animals or speed, I slow down and nearly stop for pedestrians,show great respect for wildlife and always thank anyone for moving off track or holding their dogs back. What is the law....the cycle route says "suggested use" but does not exclude off road ( and fully legal, tax, mot'd and insured bikes) I know in Scotland their is no trespass, and you have the right to roam.....but some folk get real shirty about bikers.When stopped by the boys in blue they did not seem bothered to check anything including the bikes, just a telling.
Whats going on ?......any advice........help etc would be appreciated, am I illegal and just a "Bad Person " ???

[Cam]

Scottish Outdoor Access Code - Welcome to the Outdoor Access Scotland Website

This is a good place to start. The general rule is so long as you are not interupting/ desrupting a business or any breech of the peace laws then you are good.

Cam

[xr770a]

Brilliant , its just some people get waspy...we certainly behave when we are off road....Thanks.

[Steve T]

According to the Land Reform Act 2005, if it's got an engine and it's a dedicated design for disabled, then it can go where a push bike, walker or horse rider can go.
If it's not specifically designed for use by a disabled person, for use off road, then you is breaking the law.

There are only a couple of forestry commission tracks that allow vehicular access and they are down towards the central belt as far as I'm aware.

Taking all of the above into account . . . . . . . . .
















. . . . . . . . . and then choosing to ignore it, I go where an open gate will take me . . . . .



This mornings little ride out along 8 miles of commission tracks near me.


You takes yer chances where you find them, I say

Just my tuppence worth.

Steve T

[raymo]

mmm steve making me regret putting the BT45s on the alp

open gate... I am up for it, but I do no harm .. usually forrest tracks that are well cut up by thier activities,

[africajim]

I agree with Steve T, I've a few pics of my bikes in offroad areas but the legality is questionable.

I have had issues with horse riders, mountainbikers, forestry commission workers and the polis. I found this is what those "shower cap" looking things for smoke alarms are for, covering number plates!

In all seriousness though, I am ed by the lack of access in Scotland. I see no reason why the Forestry commission do not open their roads up to bikes, and for that matter, all vehicular access. I personally would pay a small fortune for a "pass" that would access me to all forestry commission routes for my bikes and my Land rover, imagine the pictures of either the bikes or the Landie at the end of the jeep trail on top of Ben Rinnes? I'd pay for that! (Ben Rinnes estates are actually a customer of mine, must ask some time). We should all lobby for vehicular access to the forestry roads, we all pay road tax? As said, I'd pay for a pass if possible. These mountain bike trails they've built generate no income whatsoever, at least vehicular access would generate income?

Good luck folks, l'll keep my eye open for gates adrift with my upcoming photo shoot with the KLE!

[j]

According to the Land Reform Act 2005, if it's got an engine and it's a dedicated design for disabled, then it can go where a push bike, walker or horse rider can go.
If it's not specifically designed for use by a disabled person, for use off road, then you is breaking the law.

There are only a couple of forestry commission tracks that allow vehicular access and they are down towards the central belt as far as I'm aware.

Taking all of the above into account . . . . . . . . .
















. . . . . . . . . and then choosing to ignore it, I go where an open gate will take me . . . . .



This mornings little ride out along 8 miles of commission tracks near me.


You takes yer chances where you find them, I say

Just my tuppence worth.

Steve T

YIP I have done that and came back and the bloody gate has been locked, Its A bummer getting a GS under the standard forestry RSJ gate


According to the Land Reform Act 2005, if it's got an engine and it's a dedicated design for disabled, then it can go where a push bike, walker or horse rider can go.
If it's not specifically designed for use by a disabled person, for use off road, then you is breaking the law.
A nice young man with one leg once told me if he ever got stopped off roading he would pull his leg off and claim it was his only means of seeing the country side on his disability bike.

[raymo]

Good luck folks, l'll keep my eye open for gates adrift with my upcoming photo shoot with the KLE!

KLE ha nice 500 twin nearly got one a few years back.. this your 'all weather' ride jim....

bugger all this talk has me toying with a set of cheap 'rough and tough' tyres for the Alp any recomendations ?

[africajim]

Aye aye Raymo, I found an old 92 KLE, the one with the GPZ twin engine in it, best of the bunch, locally, an associate with Gleaners had it in storage for 8yrs, (obviously ex RAF! Nobody local does that!). Cracking condition and only 21,000 miles!

I'm going to run the KLE with the Deathwings it's fitted with, passed its MOT with them today so they'll do a turn! Although must admit to sticking it on the grass outside my flat today! (More gusto required in future!)

Tyrewise, I'd go for TCK80's, probably fit them when the deathwings are done. I'm planning on holding on to the KLE although I've already been looking at an Aprilia Pegaso! Minted for £1200 locally.

[xr770a]

The general opinion then is no...........but then again we have met so many nice folk on these off road trips ( more nice than against) what about putting a flouro bib on with RESCUE on it ??..........or disabled !!

I agree a lobby should be made to Salmond requesting green laning for bikes as a minimum...there is no issues as long as common sense prevails, anyway if an incident happened to say some walkers or mountain bikers in the glens, there usually is NO phone reception, so who is the quickest way to get help ?? ... hence rescue on your backs...the answer is off road bikers simple !