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The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 is a UK Act of Parliament which came into force on November 30, 2000.

A similar bill was enacted in Scotland by the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 which formalised the Scottish tradition of unhindered access to open countryside, provided that care was taken not to cause damage or interfere with activities including farming and game stalking.

As of September 2007, not all sections of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act have commenced as yet. This means that only parts of the Act are currently valid in law.

The Act (sometimes called (the CRoW Act) ) implements the so-called 'Right to Roam' (also known as Jus Spatiendi) long sought by the Ramblers' Association and its predecessors, on certain upland and uncultivated areas of England and Wales. The act is being implemented in stages as definitive maps of the areas are produced. Not all uncultivated land is covered - for instance in the southern area the guidelines are such that the land must almost always be heath or calcareous downland to qualify.

A staged review of footpaths, including limited rights of creation of new paths here needed, is being conducted under the Act. Again, this is being conducted in a staged manner, which can produce anomalies (Of the two parts of the old Gloucestershire county, South Gloucestershire was revised in the Southern area and the rest of Gloucestershire in the Midlands).

Some long-standing areas of dispute became available under the Act - these include Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill in the Peak District

The CRoW Act also made some changes in respect of nature conservation, in particular to Part I of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. These three main changes are; the maximum penalty is now a term of imprisonment instead of a fine; the Secretary of State can designate "wildlife inspectors" who have a range of powers under the Act; offences of disturbing certain birds and animals are extended so as to cover reckless as well as intentional acts

• Freedom to roam
• Open Country - UK usage
• Rights of way in the United Kingdom

• Official text of the statute as amended and in force today within the United Kingdom, from the UK Statute Law Database
• Full text of act at HMSO website
• Article describing origins of CRoW Act 2000

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