• Before you go, check, where possible, if access is allowed and your activity is permitted in the area you wish to visit.

• Respect any signs, regulations for the area that you wish to visit.

• Where possible travel by public transport or share cars; consider the availability of parking.

• Ensure you have the skills and equipment needed for your activity and to cope with emergencies that could arise.

• Check the weather forecast and always be prepared for changing weather conditions.

• For environmental and safety reasons, and to minimise your impact on other users, keep group numbers small; split larger parties into smaller groups.

• Respect the people who live and work in the countryside. 

• Park appropriately – avoid blocking gateways, forest entrances or narrow roads. Remember that farm machinery, local residents and the emergency services may need access at all times.

• Take care not to damage property, especially walls, fences and crops.

• Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.

• Let nature’s sounds prevail. Keep noise to a minimum.

• Observe wild animals and birds from a distance. Avoid disturbing them, particularly at sensitive times: mating, nesting and raising young (mostly between spring and early summer).

• Keep wildlife wild, don’t feed wild animals or birds – our foods damage their health and leave them vulnerable to predators.

• Farm animals are not pets; remain at a safe distance.

• Durable ground includes established tracks and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow.

In popular areas

• Concentrate use on existing tracks and campsites.

• To avoid further erosion, travel in single file in the middle of the track even when wet or muddy.

In more remote areas

• Disperse use to prevent the creation of new tracks and campsites.

• Avoid places where impacts are just beginning to show.

If camping

• Protect water quality by camping at least 30m from lakes and streams.

• Keep campsites small and discreet.

• Aim to leave your campsite as you found it, or better.

• Respect property. For example, farming or forestry machinery, fences, stone walls etc. Leave gates as you find them (open or closed).

• Preserve the past: examine – without damaging – archaeological structures, old walls and heritage artefacts e.g. holy wells, mine workings, monuments.

• Conserve the present: leave rocks, flowers, plants, animals and all natural habitats as you find them. Fallen trees are a valuable wildlife habitat; do not remove or use for firewood.

• Avoid introducing non-native plants and animals e.g. zebra mussels in rivers and lakes.

• Do not build rock cairns, structures or shelters

• “If You Pack It In, Take It Out” – take home all litter and leftover food (including tea bags, fruit peels and other biodegradable foods).

• To dispose of solid human waste, dig a hole 15-20cms deep and at least 30m from water, campsites and tracks. Cover and disguise the hole when finished.

• Bring home toilet paper and hygiene products.

• Wash yourself or your dishes 30m away from streams or lakes and if necessary use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Bring home any solids and scatter strained dishwater

• Fires can cause lasting impacts and be devastating to forests, natural habitats and farmland. Therefore when camping use a lightweight stove for cooking.

• Where fires are permitted: Use established fire rings, barbecues or create a mound fire.

• Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand. Do not use growing vegetation for use as firewood.

• Avoid burning plastics or other substances: which emit toxic fumes.

• Burn all fires to ash, put out fires completely, and then scatter cool ashes.