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Scottish Countryside Activities Council - Welcome

SCAC is the umbrella group of voluntary organisations and individuals with interests in countryside recreation in Scotland. Its members seek through the Council to preserve and develop access to and through the countryside and to conserve the land, its wildlife, and natural beauty. The Council provides a forum for the resolution of potentially conflicting interests, and discussion with other bodies, including statutory authorities, of ways of co-operation, and of reconciling conflicting interests or possible disagreements.

SCAC was founded on 10 February 1968, following a conference of outdoor organisations held in Glasgow. Its first chairman and founding president was the late W.H. (Bill) Murray, climber, author, and renowned commentator on the Scottish countryside.

SCAC's mission then as now is:

"To gather information affecting the use of the countryside for leisure activities; to spread knowledge about the countryside; to reconcile conflicting interests in its use, and to represent agreed interests to persons and authorities having responsibility for the countryside"

9th February 2005 New Access legislation comes into being...

An historic date for Scotland with the commencement of the new access legislation,part of the Land Reform (Scotland) 2003 Act. SCAC welcomes this progressive piece of legislation which should encourage responsible access to most of Scotland's land and inland water.

Many, many years and an untold amount of, at times heated, round table discussion and debate has gone into achieving this consensus. From the beginning, SCAC and many of its constituent members have played a not insubstantial role in moving things forward, in trying to reach common ground and ensuring this positive outcome. Well done - now get out there and enjoy the countryside.

Date for your diary

AGM 26th February 2005 at SYHA in Stirling.

16th March 2004 SHIELDAIG APPLICATION REFUSED click HERE for details

Scotland's Wild Landscapes What Future?

This has been a major theme for SCAC for the past few years. It is becoming THE major theme for many in the coming period ahead. In this coming generation more so than ever, Scotland's landscapes are on the cusp of irreversible change. There is a desparate need for sound strategic planning and policy for managing this change.

A leaflet has been produced with useful background information about the future of wild landscapes in Scotland. If you would like a copy please let me know. The leaflet was sponsored by a variety of bodies including the Scottish Countryside Activities Council; National Trust for Scotland; Mountaineering Council for Scotland; the Scottish Wild Land Group; John Muir Trust and Ramblers Scotland.

There have been some insightful reports produced over the last year or so about wild land in Scotland.

National Trust for Scotland - Wild Land Policy

Scottish Environment LINK - Landscape Seminar January 2004

Scottish Wild Land Group - Scotland's Wild Land - What Future?

Scottish Natural Heritage - Wildness in Scotland's Countryside

SCAC membership includes organisations and interested individuals including: