Rights of way access land
About this service
There are approximately 27,000 hectares of Open Country and Registered Common Land (together known as Access Land) over which the public has the right to walk, most of which can be reached from existing public vehicular roads or rights of way. It should, however, be noted that this figure includes some large areas of access land which are exempted from the right of access because they form part of the land on Salisbury Plain which is occupied and used by the Ministry of Defence Estates for training purposes.
The maps of Access Land were prepared by the Countryside Agency through a public consultation process of Draft and Provisional maps before the Conclusive maps were published in Autumn 2004. The right of access to Access Land in Wiltshire commenced on 14th December 2004.
How we manage
The Council regards Access Land as a complementary opportunity for public enjoyment of the countryside in addition to the network of over 6100 kilometres of public footpaths, bridleways and byways across the county, although it is important to remember that there is only a right of access on foot to Access Land unless the owner of the land allows wider uses. The Rights of Way Section has taken on responsibility for assessing the demand and use of the individual Access Land sites and for working in partnership with landowners, parish councils, Natural England, English Nature and the Wiltshire and Swindon Countryside Access Forum to provide local information and the means of access.
The Wiltshire and Swindon Countryside Access Forum has chosen to take on the role of providing local information about Access Land and has published details on its website. For online maps of Access Land and public information about the right of access to open country and registered common land please visit Countryside Access. The online maps also contain up-to-date information about any restrictions or closures of access land. The website also contains details of the Countryside Code and general information and helpful advice on enjoying the countryside.
Legal Framework
Wiltshire Council has powers, but not a statutory duty, to assist in the management of Access Land. The Council has chosen to take up these powers to the extent that it will be responsive to the level of and demand for public use of individual areas of Access Land and to this extent it will work towards:
- providing the means of access to and within parcels of access land
- provision of a range of local information
Contact Details
Email: rightsofway@wiltshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 01225 756178
Fax: 01225 713400
Postal Address:
The Rights of Way Officer
Wiltshire
Council
County Hall
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14
8JD
Related Documents:
Rights of Way Improvement Plan 3mb - Rights
of Way Improvement Plan - Appendix 3mb
- Wiltshire Wayfarer Winter 2009/2010
- Wiltshire Wayfarer Spring/Summer
2009 3mb
- A
Tramp around Salisbury Plain 899kb
Related Links:
- The Institute of Public Rights of Way Officers
- The Ridgeway National Trail
- The Thames Path National Trail
- Countryside Agency
- Swindon and Wiltshire Local Access Forum
Last updated: 15 March 2009