The first part of the act codifies into Scots law the universal right to responsible access to land in Scotland.

This is subject to restrictions on certain types of land, as laid out in section 6 of the Act, which includes contained structures and compounds, land adjacent to a residential property, school property, private communal gardens, fields in which crops have been sown or are growing, sports fields, and construction sites.

Further to this, the rights exist only if they are exercised in a responsible manner, to which the Scottish Outdoor Access Code provides guidance on.

Access rights apply to any non-motorised activities, including walking, cycling, horse-riding and wild camping.

They also allow access on inland water for canoeing, rowing, sailing and swimming.