Rights and responsibilities

The Countryside Code

Using public rights of way in the countryside brings lots of fun and enjoyment to many people every year. However, before you set out it is worthwhile checking up to see what you need to know whilst on your journey. The Countryside Code [pdf document] gives you a useful, quick guide to some useful points to remember whilst enjoying the outdoors. 

Your rights

• On a public footpath you have the right to walk or use a wheelchair along a defined route. You may walk your dog if you keep it under close control.
• On a public bridleway you have the right to walk, use a wheelchair or ride a horse or a pedal cycle along a defined route. Again, you may walk a dog under close control.
• On a restricted byway you may travel on foot, by wheelchair, horseback and pedal cycle. Horses can pull a non motorised vehicle such as a trap or carriage.

You can

• Make a journey, with reasonable rest along the way.
• Take a pram, pushchair, or wheelchair, but you may encounter stiles on public footpaths.
• Take a dog, on a lead or under close control.
• Take a short, alternative route around an illegal obstruction.

The council's responsibilities

• Maintaining bridges over natural watercourses.
• Signposting and, where appropriate, waymarking of public rights of way.
• Upholding the law on public rights of way and making sure the public can use them.
• Providing grants to landowners of at least a quarter of the cost of maintaining approved stiles and gates.
• The updating and continuous review of public rights of way on the definitive map and definitive statement. Contact the PROW Officer if you would like to make an appointment to view the definitive map.
• Maintaining and controlling natural vegetation on the surface of public rights of way. In practice, few field paths receive routine maintenance, you should wear boots or appropriate footwear.

Farmer, landowner, and manager responsibilities

Farmers, landowners, and managers should:

• Know where public rights of way cross their land and maintain stiles and gates so they are in good working order and easy to use.
• Refrain from obstructing public rights of way and cut back side growing and overhanging vegetation.
• Refrain from ploughing a public right of way which runs along a headland of a field, or runs alongside a hedgerow.
• Ensure that public rights of way that run across fields are reinstated as soon as possible and within two weeks after ploughing.
• Ensure that disturbance to public rights of way following drainage schemes is put right without delay.
• Obtain consent from the Council before installing new gates. New stiles are rarely accepted.