The emphasis of Part 1 of the Act is on the management of access at a local level and as such it provides local authorities and National Park authorities ("access authorities") with adequate powers to manage access in their area. The duties placed on access authorities under the Act are summarised as follows:
- To uphold the exercise of access rights over any route, waterway or other means by which access rights may be exercised
- The Act also provides for access authorities to appoint persons to act as rangers whose main role will be to advise and assist the public and owners of land in respect of access rights, and they will have a role in identifying any problems with access in their areas
- Under section 10 of the Act, Scottish Natural Heritage have drawn up a Scottish Outdoor Access Code setting out guidance on the rights and responsibilities of access takers and owners of land