Public Right of Way

[ukaskew]

I started trail running recently so have delved into the world of looking at Land Ranger maps and council right of way maps; not something I have ever had any knowledge of until now.

I've planned out a few interesting routes (trying where possible to use actual trails rather than field crossings which I'm not a fan of), but I keep finding sections which I'm not really comfortable with (I run alone, usually late evening or very early in the morning with my head torch).

Here's a good example, an excellent long loop from my house avoiding all but a tiny bit of field, but one sticking point, a public right of way which goes straight through a property (literally)...



How does this work, in practice? I a) don't want to be an arse and plough on through a few times per week, particularly as I run at night with a blazing head torch, and b) don't really fancy any confrontation either, even though presumably legally I'm in the clear.

Can I skirt around the property boundary instead, or will that actually make matters worse? I couldn't find an obvious way that you would actually follow this route anyhow.

I've also found a few rights of way which follow some very long (i.e. half mile) driveways to homes and then shoot off just before the property, a few of which have 'private property' signs at the driveway entrance, presumably the right of way is regardless of the owners signage?

[ukaskew]

Vocal Minority said:

but at the end of the day, even if it is legal, would you feel bad for doing it?

This is my point, really. From a brief bit of research I've read many say that you must absolutely exercise the right of way as it's shown if you're going that way (I would guess the right of way existed before the property and the owner knew exactly what they were getting into), otherwise firstly the whole point of right of way gets eroded, and secondly you're technically in the wrong if you take the path of least resistance rather than the correct path.

But my default stance is that I don't want any hassle for me or the owner, so the path of least resistance is far more appealing.

By the way, this is a single example of many on pretty much any route I've devised, so don't want to get hung up on this precise example.

[ukaskew]

Marvtec said:

Something else you can do is track the ROW using streetview. In the example pic you have posted, if there was a public footpath/bridleway sign at the end of the drive that would give me confidence

Unfortunately all of mine are well away from Streetview coverage. The OS land ranger RoW in the above image I posted interestingly has the RoW bang through the centre of the property, not sure I'd like to test that!

Think I'll try and get out in daylight and figure out what's what based on signage etc, I'm just incredibly uncomfortable in these situations so wondered what the general rule of thumb is as I'm certainly not one to plough on through quoting my legal right to be there at a shotgun carrying farmer

Also, terrified of dogs, which is ironically why I'm exploring these quieter areas as the local country parks etc and more obvious trails are overrrun with dogs, which is fine, but not for me. Managed 6 miles at 6am yesterday on local trails without seeing a single person, which is far more my thing!

Edited by ukaskew on Monday 23 January 14:50

[ukaskew]

john2443 said:

The house seems to be a BnB so hopefully they have reasonable customer facing skills and aren't axe wielders! So you could go and ask.

Also, it looks like there's a track that goes round the edge of the field to the left, which isn't shown as a RoW but might be a line of least resistance alternative.


https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Whaddon+Grove+...

Thanks, I hadn't noticed that as I was just looking at the OS maps originally. I've emailed the Wiltshire RoW Officer so will see what they say.

My ultimate aim is to have a nice little map of all the RoW trails/tracks (as opposed to fields) in the immediate area that don't have any apparent issues (i.e. properties with dogs on the actual RoW!) that I can plan runs of various distances up to 20 miles on.