The Moorland Assosiation

The Moorland Association is offering you a copy of the fabulous award winning DVD "The Keeper" free of charge. It gives an insight into Britain’s iconic heather moorland landscape which you are likely to see or go for a walk in whilst on holiday in Scotland. Did you know that 75% of the world’s heather is found here in Britain and it is a globally threatened habitat?

"The Keeper" focuses on how the moorland is managed as described by a gamekeeper to a schoolboy during a journey to reunite him with his school minibus. The keeper shows him about the moorland landscape, the wildlife it supports, the birds that need his protection, the importance of sustainable management and the need to save this unique habitat for generations to come.

This DVD is ideal for all the family to watch before your holiday in Scotland. To order a copy of this award winning DVD click here or the wmv file (420MB) can be downloaded directly to your computer by right clicking here and selecting 'save link as'.

The Countryside Code

Enjoy the outdoors Find out as much as you can about where you are going, plan ahead and follow advice and local signs.

Protect the natural environment Leave no trace of your visit. Take extra care to avoid the risk of starting wildfires. Unattended fires seen on the moors should be reported to the police and the nearest dwelling and barbeques and camp fires are illegal on open moorland.

Respect other people Remember that the countryside is a working environment and even small actions can lead to big disruption.

Dog Tips

If you are planning to take your dog on holiday, it is best to avoid walking it on the moors between March 1st and July 31st to protect ground nesting birds. Plan ahead and check that dogs are allowed and always ensure it does not disturb wildlife, farm animals, horses or other people by keeping it under effective control, which means.

• keep your dog on a lead or,

• keep it in sight at all times, be aware of what it’s doing and be confident it will return to you promptly on command.

• ensure it does not stray off the path or area where you have a right of access.

• The access rights that apply to open moorland require dogs to be kept on a short lead between 1 March and 31 July, to help protect ground nesting birds, and all year round near farm animals.

You can plan your walks and check for dog restrictions by phoning the Open Access Contact Centre on 0845 100 3298 or look on www.naturalengland/openaccess.