Countryside and public rights of way
A public right of way is a route which the public has a legal right to use. The rights of way network includes:
- footpaths
- bridleways
- byways
Our Countryside and Wildlife Team maintain public rights of way in Neath Port Talbot.
Public path orders
A public path order is legally required when making a permanent change to the rights of way network.
You can view current legal notices and public path orders.
Public rights of way map
You can find public rights of way using our online map.
The map is only a guide. It does not show adopted highways.
Rights of Way Improvement Plan (RoWIP)
The highway authority must produce a RoWIP to recognise the value of public rights of way.
The plan outlines the ways we can improve local rights of way and countryside access in NPT.
A draft plan was approved on March 20th, 2020 following assessment and consultation.
You can view responses to comments and changes in appendix 1 about the draft plan.
Definitive Map and Statement
The Definitive Map is a legal record of all registered public rights of way in NPT. It shows:
- public footpaths
- bridleways
- byways open to all traffic
A Definitive Statement describes the route of each right of way in greater detail.
You can make an appointment to view the Definitive Map and Statement at:
Local Access Forum (LAF)
The LAF aims to enhance countryside access and offers us advice on how to achieve this.
LAF meetings are open to the public. Please contact the Countryside and Wildlife Team for more information.