Countryside Access

Most land in the countryside is privately owned and to enter this without the owners permission is deemed as trespass.  However, footpaths, bridleways and byways give a free and easy method of access to the countryside.  You should be able to do most of your survey without having to leave public footpaths.

Public rights of access extend only to the defined route of the path.  Any straying from the path should only be undertaken after obtaining permission of the landowner.  Public footpaths allow access on foot only, and on waymarked routes they are indicated by yellow arrows; bridleways allow access on foot, horseback or bicycle, and on waymarked routes, these are generally indicated with blue arrows; byways are open to all traffic and are waymarked with red arrows.

Public rights of way are shown on Ordnance Survey Pathfinder and Landranger maps, but beware there may have been changes since the maps were published. The definitive map detailing rights of way is the most reliable, and copies of this are held by the County Council. It shows all public footpaths, bridleways and byways known in the county, and is constantly updated. Copies are supplied to parish councils free of charge, so it is worth checking if they have a recent copy for you to view.

It is important to remember that a right of way gives only a "right of passage" to travel across the land. It does not entitle you to roam at will over land or to use the land (or the path).  When carrying out a survey from a public right of way,  it is courteous to notify the landowner, so they do not get a surprise seeing an unknown person with a clipboard!

It should be noted, people who stray from highways or other land to which the public have a right of access, without permission, commit the civil wrong of trespass.  People who cause damage while trespassing may commit a criminal offence of ‘criminal damage’.