Rights of way advice and information

About this service

Wiltshire’s network of public rights of way is over 6,100km (3,790 miles) long and together with 27,000 hectares (66,700 acres) of access land provides access to a wide range landscapes and communities. The Rights of Way Section is responsible for ensuring the rights of way network is properly mapped, and that paths are maintained in a safe and suitable condition.

Classification Length (km) Percentage
length of network		 Number of paths
Public Footpath 3,597 58% 5,921
Public Bridleway 1,522 25% 1,568
Byway Open to All Traffic 819 13% 544
Restricted Byways 224 4% 145
Total 6,162 100% 8,178

For recreational purposes the Ordnance Survey (OS) maps show all the public rights of way in Wiltshire and their status. Both the OS maps available and the maps we provide on these pages are not to be used as an alternative to the Definitive Map, if you need information regarding the Definitive Map then please contact the Rights of Way office (see Contact Details).

In addition to this there are also 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 be noted that this figure includes 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.

Alongside the public rights of way network; areas of Access Land and registered commons is the additional access given by landowners and managers across their land, whether by environmental stewardship schemes or private access agreements. For further details of some of these permissive routes please follow the link; DEFRA, Permissive Walks and Rides on the right.

How we manage

The network

The ways in which the Rights of Way Section manages the network of rights of way can be broken down into 6 broad categories:

Different types of Rights of Way

A Right of Way is not, strictly speaking, a path, but a right possessed by the public, to pass along linear routes over land at all times. Although the land may be owned by a private individual, the public may still gain access across that land along a specific route. Rights of Way are broken down into 4 different classifications according to who has the right to use them.

Footpath: a right of way on foot only

Footpath: a right of way on foot only

Bridleway: a right of way on foot, horseback and leading a horse

Bridleway: a right of way on foot, horseback and leading a horse, with the right for bicyclists providing they give way to other users. There may or may not be a right to drive stock along the bridleway

Byway Open to All Traffic

Byway open to all traffic: rights of way that are used for the purposes that footpaths and bridleways are used, but on which there is a right of way for all traffic, including mechanically propelled vehicles that are road legal.

Restricted Byway: a new category created by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to replace Roads Used as Public Paths (RUPPs), allowing access for all traffic except mechanically propelled vehicles (typically trail bikes and 4x4s)

Latest News

Wiltshire Wayfarer is the quarterly Rights of Way newsletter for Wiltshire Council, it provides up to date information about changes to the network and works completed plus news from users and details of other organisations who do work on or for Rights of Way in Wiltshire.

If you would like to contribute to The Wiltshire Wayfarer please contact us, details below.

Contact Details for Wiltshire Wayfarer

Postal Address:

Wiltshire Wayfarer
Rights of Way Section
Wiltshire Council
County Hall
Bythesea Road
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JD

Email: rownews@wiltshire.gov.uk

Telephone: 01225 756183

Fax: 01225 713400

We also have details of the temporary and permanent closures (Traffic Regulation Orders) that are applied to the network, as well as the voluntary restraints that are requested of users.

Legal framework

Who is Responsible for What?

Maintenance responsibilities are generally divided (very few rights of way are totally maintained by the landowner) between highway authorities, landowners and occupiers as follows:

  • Highway authorities: surfaces (including natural ground vegetation), steps, handrails; some barriers, drains, most bridges and culverts; stepping stones, fords, signposts and waymarks. To keep the passage clear from obstruction.
  • Landowners: stiles and gates (25% of reasonable costs to be contributed by highway authorities for authorised structures).
  • Occupiers: restoration after ploughing, control of crops, and repair of damage caused by their vehicles on footpaths and bridleways.
  • Landowners or occupiers: control of overhanging vegetation, maintenance of some drains, bridges and culverts.

How Do I Report a Fault on the Public Rights of Way Network?

Knowing exactly where the fault is and the type of fault you have encountered will help us to investigate and remedy the problem more effectively:

  • The type of location information we require is a grid reference if possible, if you do not know this then the nearest village or town; street or road name and if the fault is along a path then you could provide the starting point of the path and approximate distance along the path where the fault is, with any identifying features.
  • The type of fault information would be the effect on the path, eg blocked and cause of the fault, eg fallen tree. The more precise information you give would enable us to be more prepared for when we visit. For example a fallen branch of 3cm girth would only require a handsaw whereas a fallen branch of 30cm requires a chainsaw.

To report a fault please can you contact Customer Services on-: 0300 456 0100

If you do not know the area then contact the Rights of Way Office as detailed in Contacts below or phone Clarence (Wiltshire Council’s Highways fault reporting line) on 0800 23 23 23 or 01225 777234.

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:

Related Links:

Last updated: 15 March 2009