Our role is to ensure that the English countryside is accessible to everyone. Rural recreation and tourism is dependent on a high quality environment. In the South West much of our outstanding countryside is accessible through an extensive public ri...

Rights of Way

©Countryside Agency/Ted Gifford
Our role is to ensure that the English countryside is accessible to everyone.

Rural recreation and tourism is dependent on a high quality environment. In the South West much of our outstanding countryside is accessible through an extensive public rights of way (ROW) network. 

  • There are an estimated 34,747 kms of footpaths, bridleways and byways open to all traffic (BOATs) in the South West.           

Recent legislation places new duties on Highway Authorities to strategically plan the management and improvement of their ROW network through Rights of Way Improvement Plans (ROWIPs). It will also create new rights to walk on ‘access land’ (essentially open country and registered common land).

In the region, we have worked with Dorset County Council to prepare an ‘exemplar’ Rights of Way Improvement Plan while sharing good practice and advice with other local authorities through regional workshops. ROWIPs are intended to become the prime means by which highway authorities identify the changes needed to manage and improve their rights of way network. To be produced by 2007, they must assess and provide a statement of action on:

  • The extent to which local rights of way, meet the present and likely future needs of the public.
  • The opportunities provided by local ROW for exercise, and other forms of outdoor recreation and the enjoyment of the authority’s area.
  • The accessibility of local ROW to blind or partially sighted persons and others with mobility problems.