You've decided to take a trip out into the Great British Countryside. But where can you go?
That is exactly the question that Wayfinder tries to answer.
Unfortunately, it is not always clear cut! There is no single place that shows all the legal ways in the UK. Even the records that do exist have important information missing. Another purpose of Wayfinder is to attempt to co-ordinate the efforts of researchers. That is, people trying to find the missing ways and get them recognised.
Based on the information available, Wayfinder makes a best guess at who can use which ways. This changes for different usage. Some people are looking for a gentle stroll. Others want to ride a horse or do some greenlaning in their LandRover.
Walking - pretty much all the open rights of way in the UK are available for people to walk along them.
Dog walking - from a legal point of view this is the same as walking without a dog. There are extra restrictions about the behaviour of the dog, especially around livestock. Wayfinder considers a way to be suitable for dog walking if a reasonably well behaved dog can run free. This usually means that the way is enclosed by walls or solid hedging.
Mobility - Wayfinder helps people with limited mobility to find suitable countryside access. Ways marked for mobility don't have styles, steps or similar impediments. Due the vast variation of the countryside, it is important to check before venturing too far.
Cycling - riding a bicycle on a footpath is not permitted. There are special cycleways, some of which exclude a right to walk. Then there are bridleways, which have a right to cycle with a few exceptions. If you are riding a bike in the countryside, especially on a bridleway, be prepared to give way to other users.
Horse riding - there is an extensive network of bridleways in the UK. Riding a horse on a footpath is an offence. Wayfinder shows many routes as open to horses using the available information.
Carriage driving - a horse and carriage is an excellent way to access the British countryside. Restricted byways are a relatively recent class of road. These are open to carriage drivers but not motorists. Horse riders and walkers can also make use of them.
Motorists - whether on a motorcycle or in a car, including a 4x4, there are lots of unsurfaced ways available, commonly called "greenlanes". Nothing like as many as for walkers and horse riders but still plenty. If you mainly use the countryside in motor vehicle, it is highly recommended that you join GLASS, The Green Lane Organisation for 4x4 use or TRF, Trail Riders Fellowship for motorcycles. The penalties for driving a motor in the wrong place are more severe than for other users. These recommended user groups have specialist knowledge and can support motorists. GLASS operates the excellent Trailwise which details greenlanes.
Because they are rarer, Wayfinder concentrates on showing the location of higher status routes. They are particularly special because they are often enclosed. They are free from farming and make important ecological habitats. Sometimes called greenlanes, these old roads are easy for lots of people to access. People with mobility issues or dog walkers enjoy the enclosed, flat ways.
The usage indicator is our best guess at the rights over a way. If in doubt, check by doing your own research or ask the local Highway Authority. Be aware that local authorities may be over cautious.
If you find that a way is recorded wrongly in Wayfinder, please let us know with the 'Report Problem' button. Our support team will look into it for you.