Norfolk Countryside - Your Questions Answered

Your Questions Answered

What is a Public Right of Way?

A public right of way is a route or way over which the public has a legal right to pass and re-pass. All public rights of way are public highways. The land over which the right of way runs is usually private land; the surface of the path is vested in the highway authority (County Council), but the subsoil is the property of the landowner.

What types of Public Rights of Way are there?

Public paths are classified by the nature of the public rights over them, and signed accordingly.

Footpaths may be used by people on foot; there is no public right to push a bicycle or lead a horse, but a push chair may be used where conditions permit.

Bridleways may be used for walking, riding or leading a horse or pedal cycling. Cyclists must give way to pedestrians and riders. There is no public right to use a horse-drawn vehicle.

Byways open to all traffic may be used by vehicular and other kinds of traffic, where suitable but are used by the public mainly for walking or riding horses or cycles. Vehicles should give way to other users, and comply with all driving regulations as for ordinary road traffic. They must be taxed, insured, roadworthy and properly silenced.

The public's rights along a 'restricted byway' are:

on foot
on horseback or leading a horse
by vehicle other than mechanically propelled vehicles

This last means you can take a pushbike or horse-drawn carriage along a 'restricted byway' but cannot take a motorcycle or other motor vehicle along one.