Access Rights
Public Rights of Way are highways which carry
a range of access rights and are recorded on a Definitive Map. They
include:
Footpaths
A public highway over which the public has a
right of way on foot only.
Bridleways
A public highway over which the public may
ride a horse, lead a horse, walk or ride on a pedal cycle. Cyclists
must give way to walkers and horse riders.
Restricted Byways
All the above rights plus the public right to
drive horse drawn vehicles.
Byway Open to All Traffic
(BOAT)
All the rights above plus the right to drive
mechanically propelled vehicles. The highway authority does not
have a duty to provide a surface suitable for vehicles.
Other access includes:
Permissive path where the landowner has
granted public right of access
Common Land – all registered common land is
open to public pedestrian access for air and exercise. There is no
public right to ride a pedal cycle or a mechanically propelled
vehicle on common land.
Open Country – public right of access on foot
to areas of mountain, moor, heath and down, plus areas landowners
have dedicated for public access. Natural
Resources Wales have dedicated its forests under freehold title
for public access.
Permissive areas of access – the landowner has
granted general public right of access on foot. These include some
Country Parks, woodlands owned by the Council or the Woodland Trust, nature
reserves and some parts of the coast.
Cycleways – public right to ride a pedal cycle
with or without a right to walk or ride a horse.