Scotland - Freedom to Roam

For the next month and a half, my girlfriend (Bonnie) and I found ourselves in the land of green rolling hills, small country lanes, and dramatic scenes, where land touches sea. In other words, Scotland.

Scotland looks like Microsoft background.

Ok, pause. You know that classic Microsoft desktop background from the 2000s? The one with the super green hill, rolling against an impossibly blue sky? Yeah that one. Well everywhere I looked in Aberdeenshire, I felt like I was at the location where this iconic photograph was taken. Except, no computer screen required.

Bonnie with green hills of Aberdeenshire

Little white puffs dot the hillsides, sheep grazing on a sunny day. The River Deveron curls its way through farmland, gently shaping the surrounding valley. It's like looking into a storybook.

With such great natural beauty and serenity, you might expect strict laws, regulating where travelers, locals, and tourists can and cannot go. However, we were very pleasantly surprised that Scotland has taken a different stance. The people of Scotland passed legislation giving everyone "Freedom to Roam." These laws allow people to access any land and water in Scotland, so long as they behave responsibly, respecting both the land and people on it. "Freedom to Roam" makes Scotland’s natural beauty accessible, and fosters environmental and neighborly stewardship. Here's a couple of our experiences:

River Deveron Walk

"Freedom to Roam" came in handy while on a walk along the River Deveron in Aberdeenshire. Bonnie and I did this six mile walk twice while in Scotland and found it to be a beautiful and tranquil way to get into town.

The first half of the walk stays close to the river bank, crossing from one farmers riverfront property to the next. In some spots, the path is mowed and easy to traverse, but in others there is quite a bit of stinging nettle and brush. Because of "Freedom to Roam", this was no problem. We simply popped up the bank into a farmers wheat field, making sure we weren't stepping on any crops, and then climbed back onto the trail once it was accessible again.

We continued along the river for another mile, but at this point the river turns under the stunning Bridge of Alvah, blocking the walking path and forcing hikers to find another route. The only way to get back to the path is to cut through two barnyards and then through a field of grazing sheep. Walking through the barnyards felt a bit like trespassing. We passed some bellering cows in the barn and then came across the farmer and his dog. Awkwardddd, right? Caught red handed? Nope! Not at all. Instead of animosity towards of for being on his property, the farmer gladly pointed us in the right direction. "Just go down that path and cross the sheep field. You'll find a wee path near the house at the top of the hill," he explained.

Thankful for his advice we continued up the hill, sheep scattering left and right with their baby lambs in tow. We got a bit lost trying to find the path again on the other end, but luckily, "Freedom to Roam" saved us again. Sensing the path was on the other side of another wheat field, we climbed the fence and made our way around the edge, again making sure that we didn't' damage any of the crop. After hopping the barbed wire fence on the other side (easier said than done) we were back on the path! From here it was a straight shot into town.

Coastal Walk

Jagged rocks sticking up like layers of of a old phone book on its side jab into the sea as sandy beaches and hillside grasslands add a more gentle feel. This was the scene along the north coast of Aberdeenshire between the small towns of Cullen and Portsoy, where we took on another 6 mile hike. This jaunt along the North Sea felt like something out of Lord of the Rings. Imagine that flyover shot of Gandalf leading the pack of Hobbits up a windy little path—that was us. This hike led us through public and private lands, with many trails passing right through farmer's country lanes.

We passed through Sunnyside beach, an awesome stretch of white sand beach, only accessible by the trail. Further on, we came across Findlater castle, a magnificent ruin perched on the cliffside above the water. In my opinion, the castle ruins are the best. Yeah, sure, famous castles that are made into tourist destinations are cool, but give me some crumbling stone edifices that you can climb all around in and I'm happy as a clam. The hike then passes through the houses and beach of Sandend, a sleepy surf village, before jutting back up the cliffs and past farms for the remainder. 

Freedom to Roam is great for travelers, because it opens up a ton of possibilities to see nature that otherwise would be hidden behind "no trespassing" signs. Even better, it is based off of trust—an honor system really. Nature is meant to be shared and respected, and Freedom to Roam enables all to see more, learn more, and steward more. Thumbs up, Scotland, thumbs up. 

Next up: Ireland

Peace be the journey,

Cody