Scotland set to ease Covid restrictions on outdoor meet-ups

Up to four people from two households can meet for a walk in Scotland from Friday (Image credit: Getty Images)

More people will be allowed to meet up outdoors to walk, run and cycle in Scotland from Friday as Covid-19 restrictions are relaxed a little.

Currently, two people from two households are allowed to meet outside, but the Scottish Government has announced that from March 12, this will be increased to four people from two households.

For children aged 12 to 17, outdoor meetings will also be limited to four but these can be from up to four households.

Outdoor, non-contact sport for adults in groups of up to 15 will also restart from Friday.

In addition, travel restrictions for children taking part in sport where their club may be “a bit outside” their council area is to be allowed.

Earlier this week, Deputy First Minister, John Swinney said of the Covid data that it is “going in the right direction”.

However the overall "stay at home" order is expected to remain in place for some weeks to come.

Swinney said changes would have to be made in a "sustainable" manner so that transmission of the virus does not run out of control again.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has indicated that by late April there will be a move back to a local "levels" system of regional restrictions across Scotland, albeit with tougher rules than before.

Fiona Russell is a widely published adventure journalist and blogger, who is better known as Fiona Outdoors. She is based in Scotland and is an all-round outdoors enthusiast with favourite activities including trail running, mountain walking, mountain biking, road cycling, triathlon and skiing, both downhill and back country. Her target for 2021 is to finish the final nine summits in her first round of all 282 Munros, the Scottish mountains of more than 3,000ft high. Aside from being outdoors, Fiona's biggest aim is to inspire others to enjoy the great outdoors, especially through her writing. She is also rarely seen without a running skort! Find out more at Fiona Outdoors (opens in new tab).