Access

Under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW), the public can walk freely on mapped areas of mountain, moor, heath, downland and registered common land without having to stick to paths.

People across England now have approximately 865,000 hectares of land across which they can walk, ramble, run, explore, climb and watch wildlife as they are given the freedom to access land, without having to stay on paths.

The new rights, for which people have been campaigning for over 100 years, came into effect across all of England on 31 October 2005.

Rights of Way

Waymarks are widely used symbols to identify and mark public rights of way on the ground. Markings may vary locally. Other access rights may exist over a route including unrecorded higher rights for other users and/or private access rights to land and property.

Footpath - open to walkers

Bridleway - open to walkers, horseriders and cyclists

Restricted byway - open to walkers, cyclists, horse riders and horse drawn vehicles

Byway Open to All Traffic (BOAT) - open to walkers, cyclists, horse-riders, horse-drawn vehicles and motor vehicles

Implied Right of Access: Although houses and flats are private property, domestic property has an "implied right of access" to permit services to enable postal deliveries, newspaper rounds, and other people who wish to visit. This means that the door bell or letter box (and the means to access to them) may be used to contact the owner of the property without their prior permission.

The Countryside Code

The Countryside Code applies to all parts of the countryside. Most of it is just good common sense, designed to help us all to respect, protect and enjoy our countryside.

The Code, which applies in England and Wales, makes it clear what the responsibilities are for both the public and the people who manage the land.