In the Borough of Darlington, all but one of our Rights of Way are Public Footpaths and Public Bridleways. There is one Byway Open to All Traffic (BOAT)
Within the Borough there are a number of Permissive Paths, including through Skerningham Woods, and one at Newton Ketton offering panoramic views over to the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales.
The Council is looking towards improving future countryside access around the Borough, by developing more permissive access partnerships with landowners.
The Countryside Team, with the help of a small group of Countryside Volunteers, manages the whole network. Darlington’s Rights of Way network covers a wide variety of landscapes: hills and valleys, rural and urban, short paths and circular walks.
The Teesdale Way, a Long Distance Footpath passes through the southern part of the Borough of Darlington.
Many of our Rights of Way are ancient. Some of Darlington’s Rights of Way date back almost a thousand years!
Over such a long time, some of these ancient paths and tracks have been widened, surfaced and become lanes and roads.
One example is the age-old Salters’ route, which is still a rustic lane in one part of the Borough, whilst nearer to the town centre, it is in the form of a main road!
Who looks after and manages Public Rights of Way?
Public Rights of Way pass over land owned by private individuals, and in some cases, companies. These are our landowners, and their support and goodwill are essential in maintaining the Public Rights of Way network to a good standard.
Parish Councils have important rights and powers with regard to Public Rights of Way, and can have a crucial role to play in looking after their local network of paths. Parish Councils should contact the Public Rights of Way Officer in the Countryside Team for further information.
There are a number of associations who assist the Council by monitoring the condition of Rights of Way and informing the Countryside Team about any problems.
Each countryside officer has responsibility for a geographic area within the Borough.
- Yvonne Ramage - Parishes in the north and east of the Borough: Barmpton, Bishopton, Brafferton, Coatham Mundeville, East & West Newbiggin, Great Burdon, Great Stainton, Little Stainton, Sadberge and Whessoe and parishes in the north west: Heighington, Walworth, Archdeacon Newton and Houghton le Side.
- Yvonne Ramage - Rights of Way in Darlington’s urban area: the northern wards: Faverdale, Cockerton East, Pierremont, Northgate, North Road, Central, Harrowgate Hill, Haughton West, Haughton East and Haughton North
- Malcolm Thompson - Parishes in the south east of the Borough: Hurworth, Neasham, Sockburn, Low Dinsdale, Middleton St George and Morton Palms, and parishes in the west: Piercebridge, High Coniscliffe, Low Coniscliffe, Summerhouse, Killerby and Denton.
- Malcolm Thompson - Rights of Way in Darlington’s urban area: the southern wards: Cockerton West, Mowden, Hummersknott, Park West, College, Park East, Bank Top, Lascelles, Eastbourne and Lingfield – Malcolm Thompson.
To contact by telephone:
Yvonne Ramage - 01325 388784
Malcolm Thompson - 01325 388648
e-mail – countryside@darlington.gov.uk
The Beehive
Lingfield Point
Darlington
DL1 1YN
Darlington Borough Council aims to work in partnership with landowners, parish councils, volunteer monitors and the public.
Tees Valley Local Access Forum
Tees Valley Local Access Forum [external link]
The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 required that all Highway Authorities in England and Wales set up 'Local Access Forums' to advise both local authorities and the Countryside Agency (now called Natural England) on access issues and the Rights of Way Improvement Plan.
Each forum consists of between 12 and 20 individuals with specific interests in, or knowledge of issues relating to access. There is a fantastic range of expertise within the LAF, with both user and landowner interests being represented evenly.