Make yourself at home

If you want to explore the spectacular scenery of Iceland, all it takes is a pledge that you will show respect and leave no trash trace. And that you won’t answer the call on nature when nature calls. In Iceland, and other countries in the Nordics, the freedom to roam is an ancient agreement based on trust, openness and equality. Today, the concept has spread across the globe.

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Marie Nygaard Sørlien / Photo: Graeme Murray/100% Pure New Zealand

The concept of ‘free roaming’ has been present in the Nordics for centuries. You’re free to do as you wish in public lands, as long as you show respect and leave no trash trace. Today, the concept is blooming and countries around the world are adopting the idea. From nearby countries like Scotland, just across the North Sea, to the other side of the globe, more than 10.000 miles away, in New Zealand.

Though the idea of ‘free roaming’ has spread to countries outside the Nordics, its shape is altered from country to country. In Scotland it is written into law, in New Zealand the state provides travelers with a thorough guide to free camping spots, and in other countries it is yet to be formalized and exists more as a common code.

The Scottish Outdoor Access Code, which granted public access to private land for recreational and educational purpose, was written into law in 2003. The law encourages people to go out and explore and experience nature. To wander deep into forests, climb mountain tops, forage for mushrooms and berries, swim in open water and cross vast areas of wilderness on skis or in muddied hiking boots. The purpose of it is to better visitors’, as well as the Scottish people’s, understanding of Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage.

In New Zealand, more than 200 campsites across the country are managed by the governmental Department of Conservation, hence serving a more organized shape of the freedom to roam. Localizing places that are free for camping, and communicating it to travelers, gives New Zealand the opportunity of keeping the lid on, so to speak. However, this is only the case with regards to sleepovers. During the day, travelers can roam the sceneric lands of New Zealand as they wish.

So, the freedom to roam has made its way into the government apparatus in some countries. Two Nordic countries, Iceland and Sweden, have taken it a radical step further. Iceland urges visitors to take The Icelandic Pledge, which includes “when nature calls, I won’t answer the call on nature”, and Sweden registered the entire country on booking site Airbnb, listing nature destinations under names like “Rustic Forest Retreat in Vintage Style”, as if they were Bed and Breakfasts. Here, the simple rule for spending time in nature is ‘do not disturb, do not destroy’. A country’s way of saying “make yourself at home” by replacing regulations and laws with trust.

It will be exciting to see which other countries will get inspired by the freedom to roam in the future! Maybe one day you can skip the booking site and just bring a tent and good manners when you go roaming the world.

A little more info

The freedom to roam is the general public’s right to access certain public or privately owned lands: Read more here.
In Sweden, the freedom to roam is called “allemansrätten” (everyman’s right).
In Norway, areas where the freedom to roam is valid, are marked ‘utmark’ (land outside) and areas where it’s invalid are marked ‘innmark’ (land inside).
Sweden’s tourist board, Visit Sweden, was behind the idea of enlisting the entire on booking site Airbnb. Book
here.
Outdoor clothing company Patagonia have made a short documentary on the right to roam in Scotland.