wild nature means a place 

being no less wild than things are

   by their nature

the crofter may graze beasts

but the deer-stalker must cease 

to claim the land for blood

the lairds shall not hinder 

   the ways

the people shall come and go 

as they will on the hill

as many deer shall be culled 

as allows trees to grow

but there will be no thrill 

taken in their killing

the ways are not above the laws–

but the laws should combine

sympathy and necessity for the ways

the hills should not be free of risk

the old ways will be preserved

new paths should be made

   without diggers

the ways shall be kept free of signs 

   and cairns

a notice will be posted: 

this is the people’s land

inns and hostels belong

in villages and by roads

not in wild places

the hills should have no huts

until the people become hutopians–

then a hut will spring up

in every glen

wherever bothies exist

trees should be planted

these principles shall extend 

throughout the land

The original Unna Rules were written by mountaineer and philanthropist Percy Unna (1878-1950), for the preservation of landscape and natural habitats.

Header Image Credit: Glen Ey, from gathering, Alec Finlay (Hauser & Wirth), photograph by Hannah Devereux.