Warwickshire Direct
Rights of way and paths
Advice on using rights of way
When visiting the countryside, prepare for your visit by taking suitable clothing for the (unpredictable!) weather conditions, and making sure you wear strong footwear. A walk around one of Warwickshire’s Country Parks will not require much further preparation, but it’s always best to let someone know where you are going, and what time you should be back.
Animals on public rights or way
If an animal (horse, dog, bull, etc.) causes injury to anyone using a public right of way, then the owner of that animal is held responsible, and may be prosecuted. Anyone who owns an animal which they know to have dangerous tendencies should not keep that animal in a field which is crossed by a public footpath, bridleway or byway.
Changes to rights of way
The Definitive Map (legal record of Public Rights of Way) is only changed by a legal order. If you want to make a ‘claim’ on a path (add a new path, delete an existing path, or upgrade/downgrade a path e.g. change a footpath to a bridleway), then please contact our Definitive Map team.
Countryside - disabled access
Warwickshire increasingly offers Countryside Recreation opportunities for all. Our country parks have surfaced and signed access trails, our visitor centres and cafes have wheelchair access, mobility scooters are available on free loan at Pooley Country Park.
Countryside publications
Browse our list of countryside publications for walks and trails, cycling opportunities, latest Ordnance Survey maps and much more.
Countryside rights of way
Warwickshire has over 1700 miles of public footpaths and bridleways as well as many hundreds of miles of quiet roads, canal towpaths and land managed for public access.
E roads and unclassified country roads
The term 'E Road' is generally used by Warwickshire County Council to describe an Unclassified County Road (UCR) that does not have a tarmac surface. Tarmac surfaced UCRs are generally known as 'D Roads'. The surface of E Roads may be stoned, grassy or a combination of both.
Landowners guide to public rights of way
If you have a Public Right of Way that crosses your land then the following information will help to explain your duties and responsibilities. You will also find advice on which paths you can and cannot plough, how you must restore a path if you do plough it and the minimum width requirement of each type of Right of Way.
Paths and trails
Warwickshire has a wealth of marked trails with more routes under development. If you are devising a trail, please let us know. We offer a free checking service to try to ensure there are no legal anomalies in the paths selected. We may also be able to help with publicity and promotion of your publication.
Planning and public rights of way
Public Rights of Way (PRoW) are public highways and are protected by law in exactly the same manner as any other public highway such as a High Street or dual carriageway. They are recorded in a legal document called the ‘Definitive Map and Statement of Public Rights of Way’ (DMS).
Property searches - public rights of way
When buying land or property, it is normal to carry out a search of the highway records in the vicinity of the land or property.
