Public Rights of Way in Wales

Public rights of way provide one of the main means of accessing and enjoying the countryside in Wales. There are around 33,000km (20,750 miles) of public rights of way in Wales. They are all public highways and the public has a right to use them.

Local authorities are responsible for the overall management of public rights of way. However landowners also have important legal obligations and management responsibilities for public rights of way. 

There are four distinct categories of public right of way:

• Public footpaths, which can be used by walkers only. Most public rights of way in Wales are footpaths
• Public bridleways, which can be used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders
• Restricted byways, which can be used by the same groups as bridleways, while also allowing horse-drawn carriages and other non-motorised vehicles
• Byways open to all traffic, which may be accessed by all users, including those in motorised vehicles

People using pushchairs or wheelchairs can use all of the above routes where they are physically suitable. Restrictions that may apply to areas of access land with public access under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 do not apply to public rights of way that cross the land.

People may take a dog with them when using public rights of way, although there is no duty for highway authorities or landowners to provide stiles that are suitable for dogs. 

The Countryside Code, the Trail Users Code and Dog Walking Code provide information and advice about using public rights of way and visiting the outdoors.

Definitive maps of public rights of way

Most public rights of way will be recorded on a definitive map and statement for the area.

Our role

We work with the Welsh Government, local authorities and other stakeholders to help ensure public rights of way are:

• In excellent condition and easy to use
• Well-publicised and easy to find out about
• As accessible to all lawful users as possible

Examples of our work include:

• Providing specialist advice and responding to consultations on Rights of Way legislation and policy
• Providing advice on guidance Welsh Government issue to the public and others
• Coordinating the delivery of the three National Trails in Wales and the Wales Coast Path
• Responding as a statutory consultee to Rights of Way Improvement Plans in Wales

Rights of Way Improvement Plans and funding

Local highway authorities are required by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to produce a Rights of Way Improvement Plan for their area; most current plans run until around 2027. 

These strategic plans set out the authority’s key priorities for improving the rights of way over the life of the Plan.

Welsh Government provided a major boost to the implementation of these Plans through the ROWIP Funding Programme, which was administered and managed by Natural Resources Wales for a number of years. More recently, Welsh Government have directly supported authorities’ improvement of public rights of way and other public access through the Access Improvement Grant, for example, providing £5.6 million over the 3 years from 2022/23 to 2024/25. Future grants for access improvements, after 2026/27, are subject to Welsh Government funding decisions.

Further information about ROWIPs and the results of the Funding Programme.

National trails, the Wales Coast Path, and other promoted routes

Natural Resources Wales coordinates the delivery of the three National Trails in Wales and the Wales Coast Path. These are the flagships of the public rights of way network in Wales.

We are also seeking to support partners to provide national promotion for regional and local longer distance quality assured routes.

Other access opportunities in Wales

The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 provided new public access rights to many areas of mountain, moor, heath and common land across Wales. Most of the forest estate managed by Natural Resources Wales has also been dedicated as Access Land. 

Cycle tracks are a special designation of route created with cycling in mind, but you can often walk or ride horses on them too. The National Cycling Network includes many of these routes and is publicised by Sustrans.

There may be opportunities to enjoy permissive access in some areas. Permissive access is not a public right. Instead, it is land, or routes, that the owner allows people to use.

These are often not shown on maps because they are not permanent. Many public or charitable landowning organisations such as the National Trust, Woodland and Wildlife Trusts and local authorities will provide access on sites that they own or manage.

Check their websites to see what is on offer near you. There may even be opportunities to get involved in maintaining those sites.

What are Rights of Way Improvement Plans?

The Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act 2000 places a duty on each highway authority in England and Wales to publish a Rights of Way Improvement Plan (RoWIP).

These are 10-year prioritised plans for the improvement of the local rights of way network and are intended to benefit the public.  Securing an improved network, for walking, cycling, horse riding and off-road users. 

People with sight and mobility issues are specifically mentioned by the CRoW Act and the additional requirements of the Equality Act 2010 also apply. 

The plans set out the principle means by which local highway authorities are to identify, prioritise and plan for improvements to their local rights of way network.

ROWIP review

Local authorities must review their Rights of Way Improvement Plan within 10 years of producing their last plan. The first plans were produced in 2007/8. While exact timings vary per local authority, this means that the next round of ROWIPs are due to be reviewed from around 2027.

Welsh Government issues statutory guidance setting out how ROWIPs should be reviewed and the key steps involved.

Authorities must:

• Plan for the Review: issue and outline and timetable and initial consultation
• Carry out new assessments
• Review the previous ROWIP and decide if they need to amend it
• Publish a Draft ROWIP. This is subject to a minimum 12-week public consultation
• Revise the Draft ROWIP
• Publish their Final ROWIP

The published RoWIPs should have distinct sections setting out the strategic context and assessment of an authority’s local rights of way. These sections will lead into a Statement of Action for the management and improvement of local rights of way over the life of the Plan. ROWIPs must also include a ‘delivery plan’ setting out an authority’s immediate priorities for their rights of way, including 1-to-3-year work plans. The delivery plans are expected to be reviewed annually and updated as necessary.

The Statement of Action should include key aims and priorities, long term strategic commitments, and details of what will be deferred to delivery plans.

Have your say on rights of way

There are periodic opportunities as part of the ROWIP review process for the public and interested stakeholders to help the authority develop their next plan by providing information about their needs and priorities.

For details of a local authority’s current ROWIP and when their next Plan review is due, go to the authority’s website or contact them directly.

Local Access Forums have a key role to support the development of the ROWIP. 
NRW is a statutory consultee for all ROWIPs and is looking at how NRW managed land can help meet public needs.