Sport in the outdoors

Scotland’s outdoors is hugely important for sport and recreation, providing the setting and opportunity for a wide range of activities. Many of these activities are participated in by large numbers of people.

The outdoors includes our countryside, our coastal and marine environment, as well as the green spaces and networks of our towns and cities.

This part of the sportscotland website is intended to let partners and interested parties see what sportscotland does to support and develop sport and recreation in Scotland's outdoors.

What we do

sportscotland supports sport and recreation in the outdoors in the following ways:

• Support, advice and funding to Scottish Governing Bodies of sport, such as the Scottish Canoe Association and the Mountaineering Council for Scotland.
  See the Governing bodies section of the site
  
• Sport facility development and funding
  Through the Sports Facilities Fund sportscotland funds a range of outdoor sport facilities. This has included the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena at Ratho, the Aonach Mor downhill mountain bike course and smaller projects such as boat storage at Lochore Meadows Country Park.
  
• Demonstration projects
  sportscotland produces best practice guidance on projects relevant to sport and recreation in the outdoors. This has included the design and development of a sustainable changing facility for canoeists on the River Spey and a report on the design and construction of a mountain bike training facility at sportscotland's National Centre Glenmore Lodge (see the guidance, research and policy page).
  
• Strategy and project development
  sportscotland has worked with partners on the development of a range of projects and strategies relevant to the interests of sport and recreation in the outdoors. Recently, for example,  we have been part of the steering group responsible for the development of a national framework for the sustainable development of mountain biking in Scotland.
  
• Planning
  sportscotland’s planning team comments on planning applications, development plans and planning guidance in the interest of outdoor sport.
  
• Representation
  sportscotland represents outdoor sport and recreation interests on a range of national and regional steering groups and consultative forums, such as the National Access Forum.
  
• Consultation response work
  Working with partners, sportscotland responds to a range of consultations in the interests of outdoor sport and recreation (see policy responses page).
  
• Support
  sportscotland works to support sport and recreation interests in situations of conflict resolution and in promoting positive and sustainable solutions for sport.
  
• Investment in coaching, clubs, volunteering and athletes including a range of outdoor sports and outdoor sport participants. For more information see the "About us" section of this site.
  
• The Active Schools Network includes projects that encourage children to participate in sport and recreation in the outdoors. See Active schools section of site.
  
• Training, teaching and coaching opportunities in a range of outdoor sports are provided through sportscotland’s National Centres.
  
• Research
  sportscotland undertakes research and publishes reports, including sports participation data, relevant to outdoor sport and recreation. (see Guidance, research and policy page and participation research)