Request for information - Ref No: FOI231141
Request
“I would like to know the following information:
- How many miles/kilometres of public rights of way exist in England in total
- How is this figure broken down by type of right of way (in miles or KM) e.g. footpaths, bridleways, restricted byways, byways open to all traffic in England?
- How many miles/kilometres of public rights of way exist in Wales in total
- How is this figure broken down by type of right of way (in miles or KM) e.g. footpaths, bridleways, restricted byways, byways open to all traffic in Wales?”
Our response
I confirm that Ordnance Survey does hold Rights of Way information in our production database.
The tables below show the totals in KMs taken from our production database, this records information from Published Rights of Way on the 1:25,000 contextual Raster products (Landranger and Explorer maps).
| ENGLAND | KMs |
| BY WAYS OPEN TO ALL TRAFFIC | 4598 |
| BRIDLEWAYS | 35525 |
| FOOTPATHS | 143330 |
| RESTRICTED BYWAYS | 3888 |
| TOTAL | 187341 |
| WALES | KMs |
| BY WAYS OPEN TO ALL TRAFFIC | 409 |
| BRIDLEWAYS | 5388 |
| FOOTPATHS | 26714 |
| RESTRICTED BYWAYS | 1102 |
| TOTAL | 33613 |
It should be noted that 1:25,000 mapping represent 1km x 1km in a 4cm x 4cm grid square, in addition, Ordnance Survey is not the authoritative body for Rights of Way in England and Wales, this is the responsibility of the individual Local Authorities which hold the definitive maps. Ordnance Survey can only update its mapping on receipt of a notification of a change to a Right of Way from the relevant Local Authority, therefore the information in the table may not be an accurate representation.
Under the duty to provide information and assistance in accordance with section 16 of FOIA, we can provide the following information which may also assist you in this matter:
A guide to definitive maps and changes to public rights of way in England: Definitive maps of public rights of way: change the legal records - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Public Rights of Way in Wales: Natural Resources Wales / Public Rights of Way in Wales
Public rights of way - Ramblers
UK footpaths, bridleways and byways online map | FootPathMap.co.uk
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