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
Page last updated: 28 November 2018