Rights of Way and Footpaths | Public Footpath Rules

Rights of Way / Footpaths

There’s nothing like a nice walk or ride in the countryside along your favourite path.
But what happens when that route is blocked, closed or even moved?

Join the Society

If you love the great outdoors and enjoying full access to your favourite open and green spaces, footpaths, bridleways and cycle routes, you should consider joining the Open Spaces Society.

As a member, you will enjoy many benefits, including the support of our expert team based at our head office in Henley-on-Thames. We have a casework policy to help us prioritise the charity's limited resources.

Depending on where you live, you may also have a local Open Spaces Society correspondent (our name for volunteer) who may be able to help you.

Become a Member

What are your rights when it comes to accessing the routes you know and love?

At Open Spaces Society, we are experts on all types of public rights of way and we can help you defend your local footpath if it’s under threat.

We can help you claim a path, remove a blockage, or lobby your highway authority. Read about our campaigning work for rights of way here.

We also have a network of dedicated volunteers known as local correspondents. They can help you in your local area.

Find your local correspondent

What is a right of way?

A right of way is a path that anyone has the legal right to use on foot, and sometimes using other forms of transport.

Public footpaths are normally open only to walkers
Public bridleways are open to walkers, horse-riders and cyclists
Restricted byways are open to walkers, horse-riders, and drivers/riders of non-mechanically propelled vehicles (such as horse-drawn carriages and pedal cycles)
Byways Open to All Traffic (BOATs) are open to all classes of traffic including motor vehicles, though they may not be maintained to the same standard as ordinary roads.

Rydal Water, Cumbria

How can you protect your rights of way?

Whether it’s a local footpath or a path you’ve taken on holiday or on a day trip, we can help you protect it.

The most effective way for you to fight for your rights of way in England and Wales is to join the Open Spaces Society.

As a member, you can count on the support of our expert team based at our head office in Henley-on-Thames. Here are some examples of cases where we have given guidance to individual, group or local authority members.

Depending on where you live, you may also have a local Open Spaces Society correspondent (our name for volunteer) who is consulted on all planning consultations that affect public rights of way.

Need help defending your local right of way?

Become a member

Further resources about Rights of Way / Footpaths

Frequently asked questions: Rights of way
Here you'll find the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about paths and rights of way.
Deregulation Act
A small but important part of the act concerns public rights of way, and will take effect once the regulations and guidance have been completed.
Claiming a Public Path
It is possible to apply to include on the definitive map routes which have been used by the public, ‘as of right’ for twenty years.
Getting Decent Widths in Path Diversion Orders
Some slightly random thoughts on the matter to encourage action.
Information on Highway Verges
Along many of the highways of England and Wales are to be found strips of land open to the public.
Parishes dealing with highway obstructions
Town, parish and community councils are likely to take a strong proprietorial interest in their parish rights of way, and in their local highway network generally.
Government Guidance - Public Access and Rights of Way in England
Insider hacks: three Government publications that will help you to protect public access and rights of way.
Requiring the highway authority to act on obstructed paths
This information sheet provides details about what you can do if a path you use becomes obstructed.
Taking action on paths which are ‘out of repair’
Making an application under section 56 of the Highways Act 1980
Parish role in preparing the definitive map
Mistakes in the preparation of the first definitive map of rights of way.
Highway statements in Wales
This page explains more about what highway statements in Wales are, how they interact with existing public rights, and how to find out more about them.
Insider hacks: Public access and rights of way guidance
This page makes available four publications to which we think you should have easy access.

Path Paraphernalia
This guide has been written by Chris Beney, OSS local correspondent and trustee, and is aimed at assisting those who share our goal of reducing unnecessary and undesirable structures from our public paths.
Taking action
Challenging councils who have failed to make progress with definitive map change applications
What local councils can do for public access to town and countryside
Our information sheet sets out how local councils can go about protecting and caring for the commons, greens, other open spaces, and paths in their areas.
Local Access Forums: role of the local authority
As a local authority or national park authority, find out what responsibilities you have for your LAF.
Local authority rights of way improvement plans
As a local authority you must review your rights of way improvement plan every 10 years.
Authorising structures on rights of way
Good practice guidance for local authorities on compliance with the Equality Act 2010
What to do about overgrown paths
Our recommended action if you come across an overgrown path.
Opposing extensions to temporary traffic regulation orders
This information sheet explains how you may object to the extension of temporary traffic regulation orders.
Impassable Paths
We look at the different types of problems which make paths impassable.
Charter for Open Spaces in England
Our charter to protect open spaces for the future
Paths or open spaces under threat? A problem solved
We share our experience of defending public access to paths and open spaces
Highway statements in England
This page explains more about what highway statements in England are, how they interact with existing public rights, and how to find out more about them.

Visit Our Information Hub

Find a local correspondent

Our latest posts about rights of way

Public-path guillotine to be lifted

We are delighted at the government’s Boxing Day announcement that it intends to abolish the 2031 cut-off for recording public paths[1]. Says Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary: ‘This news is extremely welcome, as thousands of unrecorded paths will be saved from extinction. We are delighted that the government is now demonstrating its commitment to our…

Bring on Wales’s new national park

We strongly support the new national park in north-east Wales. The society believes that the national park designation will benefit the splendid, varied landscape of this region, its wildlife and culture, and will help to promote responsible public access and enjoyment. However, it has also called for the Welsh government to make sufficient funds available…

Call for new ‘People’s Charter’ on 75th anniversary of revolutionary national parks and access law

Today (16 December 2024), on the 75th anniversary of royal assent of the revolutionary National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, the organisations which collectively promoted that law, call for a new vision from government. Hailed as a People’s Charter, the 1949 act was to enable all citizens, no matter their background, to…

Mega-development on Kilvey Hill, Swansea, would cut a hole in a Persian carpet

We have objected strongly to the amended planning application from Swansea Skyline to convert Kilvey Hill, east of Swansea, into a commercial tourist-site. The society considers the hill to be a much-loved local gem, which should not be sacrificed for mega-tourism. The proposed development would comprise, among other structures, gondola stations and chairlift infrastructure for…

0 Shares