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.
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.
The Countryside Code started life in the 1950s as the Country Code. It was updated in 2012.
Code for the public
Respect other people
Consider the local community and other people enjoying the outdoors
Leave gates and property as you find them and follow paths unless wider access is available
Protect the natural environment
Enjoy the outdoors
Code for land managers
3 sections of the Code are dedicated to land managers:
29-01-14