Rights and responsibilities

Everyone has rights and responsibilities in the countryside in relation to public rights of way. Outlined below are general rights and responsibilities, if you wish to seek advice on these in more detail contact your local Area Rights of Way Officer.

Public rights

• pedestrians have the right to use Public Footpaths, Bridleways, Restricted Byways and Byways;
• equestrians have the right to use Bridleways, Restricted Byways and Byway;
• cyclists have the right to use Bridleways, Restricted Byways and Byways;
• horse drawn vehicles have the right to use Restricted Byways and Byways;
• motorbikes and vehicles have the right to use Byways;
• you have the right to pass and repass along the public right of way, this may include admiring the view, taking a photograph or resting as long as you stay on the line of the path and do not cause an obstruction;
• you may take a dog with you, but you must keep it under proper control (see responsibilities);
• you may take a short route around an illegal obstruction or remove it sufficiently to get past.

Public responsibilities

• use Ordnance Survey Maps to find your way around and look out for waymark posts and signposts;
• walk in single file across arable land, avoid spreading out and trespassing on a wide area;
• avoid obstructing field gateways when parking at the beginning of your walk, use laybys and car parks where possible;
• keep dogs under proper control at all times. You should not let it foul the right of way, farmland or any place to which the public have access. Do not allow your dog to worry livestock, run through arable crops or flush game from hedgerows;
• follow the country code:
• • be safe - plan ahead and follow any signs;
  • consider other people;
  • keep dogs under close control;
  • leave gates and property as you find them; and
  • protect plants and animals, and take your litter home.

Landowner rights

• you have the right to require the public to leave your land where they have no right of access;
• you have the right to protect your land from claimed/new public rights of way by submitting a statutory declaration, erecting signs, locking gates or physically challenging members of the public;
• you have the right to give consent for additional public access on your land (either temporary or permanent)

Landowner responsibilities 

• Make sure you know where the Public Rights of Way are across your land and ensure a check is carried out when purchasing new land or property
• Refrain from obstructing public rights of way
• Ensure crossfield routes are convenient, apparent and free from obstruction and to the minimum width (see Land Managers Guide in Publications)
• Ensure headland routes are convenient, apparent and left free from crops and to the minimum width. (see Land Managers Guide)
• Do not keep Bulls of a recognised dairy breed in a field crossed by a Public Right of Way, it is an offence. Only keep bulls in a field crossed by a public right of way if they are under 10 months old or not a recognised dairy breed and accompanied by cows and heifers
• Ensure stiles and gates are maintained in a safe condition and are easy to use, and remove any unnecessary structure
• Do not place barbed wire across rights of way or attach to structures. If unavoidable using adjacent to a right of way, place the wire stock side and place plain wire people side to avoid injury
• Avoid using firearms on or adjacent to public rights of way. Know the law before commencing a shoot in the vicinity of a Public Right of Way

County Council responsibilities

• Ensure the Definitive Map and Statement are kept up to date
• Signposting all rights of way where they leave a metalled road and providing additional signs and waymarks where necessary
• Keeping the surface of rights of way in good repair and managing natural surface growth, including field headlands
• Ensuring that farmers comply with the law that paths over cultivated land are properly restored after they have been disturbed and remain apparent on the ground thereafter
• Prevent the closure or obstruction of any highway
• Ensure maintenance of existing bridges and culverts and installation of new ones
• Provide a 25% grant to landowners for repair or improvement of structures
• Administer the Parish Paths Partnership scheme