Rights of way
A Public Right of Way is a way over which the public has a right to pass, whether or not the land is privately-owned. Public Rights of Way are signposted at the roadside and may also be waymarked along the route. They can be of the following types:
Public footpath – on foot only, signed with a yellow arrow
- Some footpaths have widths recorded in our records. Many do not. Footpaths running between defined natural boundaries, such as hedgerows, run the full width between those boundaries
- As a minimum, paths would normally be at least wide enough for two adults to walk side by side, we usually apply a minimum two metre width as a standard in the absence of any other evidence as to the path’s width
- Where there is evidence of greater width being available in the past, we will apply that width by investigating the evidence
- On arable land (where crops are grown), in the absence of any recorded width, footpaths should be at least one metre wide across a field and one and a half metres wide around the edge of the field
- Stiles and gates provide access through hedges and fences; bridges across streams and drains
Bridleway - on foot, horseback and pedal cycle, signed with a blue arrow
- Some bridleways have widths in our records, many do not. Bridleways running between defined natural boundaries, such as hedgerows, run the full width between those boundaries
- As a minimum, paths would normally be at least wide enough for two horse riders to pass. We usually apply a minimum four metre width as a standard in the absence of any other evidence as to the path’s width
- Where there is evidence of greater width being available in the past, we will look to apply that width by investigating that evidence
- On arable land (where crops are grown), in the absence of any recorded width, bridleways should be at least two metres wide across a field and three metres around the edge of the field
- Sufficient headroom (four metres) for horse and rider
- No stiles.
- Gates should be wide enough for horses and easy to open on horseback
Restricted byways - on foot, horseback, pedal cycle and with non-mechanically propelled vehicles, signed with a purple arrow
- A right of way for pedestrians, horse-riders, cyclists and horse-drawn carts and carriages.
- Most Restricted Byways are former Roads used as Public Paths (RUPPs) reclassified by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
Byway open to all traffic- on foot, horseback, pedal cycle and wheeled vehicles of all kinds, signed with a red arrow
- Mainly used by the public for walking and riding
- Surface may not be suitable for motor vehicles
- Would normally be expected to be at least five metres wide but this is not exclusively the case
- Where there is evidence of greater width being available in the past, we will look to apply that width by investigating the evidence
- Gates should be wide enough for vehicular access
On rights of way you can:
- Take a pram, pushchair, wheelchair, but expect to encounter stiles on footpaths
- Take a dog under close control, preferably on a lead but be aware that there may be no way for dogs at stiles
- Take a short alternative route around an illegal obstruction
- Move an illegal obstruction sufficiently to get past
Follow the Country Code - respect, protect, enjoy
- Be safe – plan ahead and follow any signs
- Leave gates and property as you find them
- Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home
- Keep dogs under close control
- Consider other people
For more information call 01296 382171 or email row@buckscc.gov.uk
| File name | Summary | File size | Download time | File type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motorised Vehicle Policy | Policy for the management of motorised vehicle use in the countryside | 139 k | 20 secs |  |
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