Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000

General restrictions E+W

1 E+W Section 2(1) does not entitle a person to be on any land if, in or on that land, he—

(a) drives or rides any vehicle other than an invalid carriage as defined by section 20(2) of the M1 Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970,

(b) uses a vessel or sailboard on any non-tidal water,

(c) has with him any animal other than a dog,

(d) commits any criminal offence,

(e) lights or tends a fire or does any act which is likely to cause a fire,

(f) intentionally or recklessly takes, kills, injures or disturbs any animal, bird or fish,

(g) intentionally or recklessly takes, damages or destroys any eggs or nests,

(h) feeds any livestock,

(i) bathes in any non-tidal water,

(j) engages in any operations of or connected with hunting, shooting, fishing, trapping, snaring, taking or destroying of animals, birds or fish or has with him any engine, instrument or apparatus used for hunting, shooting, fishing, trapping, snaring, taking or destroying animals, birds or fish,

(k) uses or has with him any metal detector,

(l) intentionally removes, damages or destroys any plant, shrub, tree or root or any part of a plant, shrub, tree or root,

(m) obstructs the flow of any drain or watercourse, or opens, shuts or otherwise interferes with any sluice-gate or other apparatus,

(n) without reasonable excuse, interferes with any fence, barrier or other device designed to prevent accidents to people or to enclose livestock,

(o) neglects to shut any gate or to fasten it where any means of doing so is provided, except where it is reasonable to assume that a gate is intended to be left open,

(p) affixes or writes any advertisement, bill, placard or notice,

(q) in relation to any lawful activity which persons are engaging in or are about to engage in on that or adjoining land, does anything which is intended by him to have the effect—

(i) of intimidating those persons so as to deter them or any of them from engaging in that activity,

(ii) of obstructing that activity, or

(iii) of disrupting that activity,

(r) without reasonable excuse, does anything which (whether or not intended by him to have the effect mentioned in paragraph (q)) disturbs, annoys or obstructs any persons engaged in a lawful activity on the land,

(s) engages in any organised games, or in camping, hang-gliding or para-gliding, or

(t) engages in any activity which is organised or undertaken (whether by him or another) for any commercial purpose.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Sch. 2 para. 1 applied (with modifications) (coming into force in accordance with s. 1(2)-(4) of 2002 c. i) by 2002 c. i, ss. 1(2), 11(4)(6)(7), 42 (with ss. 38, 39)

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 2 para. 1 in force at 19.9.2004 for E. by S.I. 2004/2173, art. 2(1)(h)

I2 Sch. 2 para. 1 in force at 28.5.2005 for W. by S.I. 2005/423, art. 2(g)

Marginal Citations

M1 1970 c. 44.

2 (1) In paragraph 1(k), “metal detector” means any device designed or adapted for detecting or locating any metal or mineral in the ground. E+W

(2) For the purposes of paragraph 1(q) and (r), activity on any occasion on the part of a person or persons on land is “lawful” if he or they may engage in the activity on the land on that occasion without committing an offence or trespassing on the land.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 Sch. 2 para. 2 applied (with modifications) (coming into force in accordance with s. 1(2)-(4) of 2002 c. i) by 2002 c. i, ss. 1(2), 11(4)(6)(7), 42 (with ss. 38, 39)

Commencement Information

I3 Sch. 2 para. 2 in force at 19.9.2004 for E. by S.I. 2004/2173, art. 2(1)(h)

I4 Sch. 2 para. 2 in force at 28.5.2005 for W. by S.I. 2005/423, art. 2(g)

3 E+W Regulations may amend paragraphs 1 and 2.

Commencement Information

I5 Sch. 2 para. 3 in force at 19.9.2004 for E. by S.I. 2004/2173, art. 2(1)(h)

I6 Sch. 2 para. 3 in force at 28.5.2005 for W. by S.I. 2005/423, art. 2(g)

4 E+W During the period beginning with 1st March and ending with 31st July in each year, section 2(1) does not entitle a person to be on any land if he takes, or allows to enter or remain, any dog which is not on a short lead.

Commencement Information

I7 Sch. 2 para. 4 in force at 19.9.2004 for E. by S.I. 2004/2173, art. 2(1)(h)

I8 Sch. 2 para. 4 in force at 28.5.2005 for W. by S.I. 2005/423, art. 2(g)

5 E+W Whatever the time of year, section 2(1) does not entitle a person to be on any land if he takes, or allows to enter or remain, any dog which is not on a short lead and which is in the vicinity of livestock.

Commencement Information

I9 Sch. 2 para. 5 in force at 19.9.2004 for E. by S.I. 2004/2173, art. 2(1)(h)

I10 Sch. 2 para. 5 in force at 28.5.2005 for W. by S.I. 2005/423, art. 2(g)

6 E+W In paragraphs 4 and 5, “short lead” means a lead of fixed length and of not more than two metres.

Commencement Information

I11 Sch. 2 para. 6 in force at 19.9.2004 for E. by S.I. 2004/2173, art. 2(1)(h)

I12 Sch. 2 para. 6 in force at 28.5.2005 for W. by S.I. 2005/423, art. 2(g)