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Category: Articles » Travel & Leisure » Outdoors » Article » Article Code

UK Rights of Way: Ten things you may not know about them

If you're new to country walking in the UK, or are planning a visit and would like to enjoy a walk in the countryside, you may be confused as to just where you can and can't go. The short article that follows should serve to demystify the meaning of all those finger-posts, yellow arrows and stiles that are dotted about everywhere. So here are ten things you may not know about UK Public Rights of Way . . . Paths marked as Public Footpaths ... read more

Article Title:

Article Body:

If you're new to country walking in the UK, or are planning a visit and

would like to enjoy a walk in the countryside, you may be confused as to

just where you can and can't go. The short article that follows should

serve to demystify the meaning of all those finger-posts, yellow arrows

and stiles that are dotted about everywhere. So here are ten things you

may not know about UK Public Rights of Way . . .

<ul>
 
Paths marked as Public Footpaths are open only to walkers - no

cyclists, horse-riders or motor vehicles.

Paths marked as Public Bridleways are open to walkers, horse-

riders and cyclists.

Paths marked as Restricted Byways are open to all non-

motorised users: walkers, horse riders, cyclists and horse-drawn

vehicles.

Paths marked as Byways Open To All Traffic (BOATS) are

open to all traffic including motor vehicles - though they may not be

maintained to the standard of ordinary roads.

From a legal standpoint, a Public Right of Way is subject to the same

protection in law as all other roads, being part of the Queen's

Highway.

On a Public Right of Way as listed above, your legal right is to

pass and repass along the way. You may stop to rest, take

refreshment or simply admire the view - providing you stay on the path

and don't cause any type of obstruction.

Paths that cross commons, open spaces and public parks to which the

public has normal access may not be Public Rights of Way - though some

are.

Some paths are known as Permissive Paths because the owner

of the land has given permission for the public to use them. There is often

a disclaimer notice on these paths that states that they are not dedicated

as rights of way - some are even closed one day per year in order to

enforce this statement.

Even though a Public Right of Way may be unused for many years, it

remains a Public Right of Way, the legal maxim being Once a highway,

always a highway. The exception to this is Scotland, where paths may

be closed after twenty years non-use.

If you see a sign by a path declaring it to be a Road Used as a

Public Path (RUPP), this is now obsolete. All RUPP's were re-classified

in May 2006 as Restricted Byways open to all non-motorised users

in the same manner as described above.
 
</ul>

Please note:the above information is provided in good faith and is

researched to the best of my knowledge. It is not intended to be a

definitive interpretation of the law.

Author Bio:

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