The legal record of our public rights of way is kept on Definitive Maps and Statements compiled by the various councils under the 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act. The maps show the numbered paths and their status (i.e. footpath bridleway etc.). The accompanying Statements provide a physical description of each path, which includes their maintainable width, surface, and details of any gates and stiles.
The actual maps and statements, should be available for you to consult free of charge at the relevant Surveying Authorities’ offices during normal working hours. But they do have online maps which help you check the status and numbers of the paths you are using.
IF YOU REGULARLY WALK OR RIDE ALONG A TRACK:
Please check that it is correctly recorded. A quick way to check this is by using these links to the councils’ rights of way maps.
FOOTPATH NOT SHOWN ON THE MAPS? Alert the appropriate branch of the West Yorkshire Ramblers Association
BRIDLEWAY NOT SHOWN ON THE MAPS? Please let us know by emailing Contact Us.
AND contact your local authority
Alternatively, if you can’t find the route that you are looking for on the map of paths: it could be a minor highway. See section below.
Minor Roads
Councils keep a separate record of these called the List of Streets but unlike the Definitive Map it is no longer regarded as a legal record and can be altered. This should be available for public inspection but not all councils comply with this. However, councils are currently in the process of compiling a national online map of roads, which can be accessed on the National Street Gazetteer.
You can check if your road/path is included here: National Street Gazetteer
You will need to click ‘Customise my map’ on the legend on the left hand side, then click on ”Operational Information’, scroll down to ‘Street Gazetteer’ and tick the ‘Road Status’ box. You will need to zoom in to see this layer.
The roads are coloured, if you hover the mouse over them it will give more detail:
- BLUE – Publicly Maintainable known as Unclassified County Roads (UCRs): The vast majority of these carry vehicular rights and should be open to walkers, horse riders, cyclists and carriage drivers. They are usually very ancient public roads, (often un-metalled) which the councils have decided not to maintain to modern standards.
- YELLOW – Privately Maintained Streets or unadopted roads (Other) – The status of these can be a grey area but they usually carry some public rights. We do not yet know to what extent their use will be preserved after the cut-off date. It is sensible to research their origin as however obviously public they look there is still the possibility they may be lost.
- PINK – Multiple Road Status. These seem to be ‘partially adopted’ roads (Possibly also recorded on the Definitive Map) If they are also shown on the Definitive Map, check they are not under-recorded.