Your rights and responsibilities

Landowners must not

• plough a headland path or byway or allow crops to grow or overhang the minimum width of the path
  
• erect barbed wire where it might be dangerous to users of a path or electric fencing across a bridleway
  
• permit a bull to be at large in any field or enclosure through which a public right a way passes except a bull under 10 months old or a beef bull accompanied by cows or heifers  
  
• make excavations or erections likely to make a path unsafe
  
• obstruct or damage rights of way
  
• erect misleading notices 

Users of rights of ways must

• stay on the route of a right of way use it in accordance with its status (footpath, bridleway etc)
  
• keep dogs under close control (on a lead if necessary)
  
• close gates which are found closed
  

Follow the country code:

• enjoy the countryside and respect its life and work
  
• guard against all risk of fire
  
• fasten all gates
  
• keep your dog under close control
  
• keep to public paths across farmland
  
• use gates and stiles to cross hedges,
  
• fences and walls
  
• leave livestock, crops and machinery alone
  
• take your litter home
  
• help to keep water clean
  
• protect wildlife, plants and trees
  
• take special care on country roads
  
• make no unnecessary noise 

Users of rights of way must not

• use the countryside for dog toileting
• stray from the path