Public Footpath & Rights of Way Checker
Find public footpaths, bridleways, and byways near any UK address — free, instant, sourced directly from Ordnance Survey's official Rights of Way data.
Why Check for Public Footpaths Before Buying
Public rights of way create statutory easements across land that carry significant legal implications for homeowners and prospective purchasers:
A public right of way grants the general public a permanent legal right to cross land along a specific mapped route, regardless of whether the land itself is privately owned. Even if a path traverses a private driveway, garden boundary, or agricultural paddock, public access remains protected.
Having a public footpath crossing or bordering your land can affect privacy, security, and development potential. In many cases, planning authorities will restrict the ability to erect fences, construct extensions, or modify land contours that could obstruct or narrow the usable width of the route.
Rights of way are strictly protected under the Highways Act 1980. Landowners cannot block, gate, cultivate, or divert a mapped path unilaterally. Diverting or extinguishing a statutory path requires a formal legal Public Path Order through the local council, which involves public consultation, potential objections, and significant legal costs with no guarantee of approval.
Paths adjacent to residential gardens create regular footfall from walkers, dog owners, and cyclists.
Extensions, outbuildings, and perimeter walls cannot obstruct mapped statutory highway widths.
Landowners are legally required to maintain stiles and gates on rights of way in safe, working condition.
Frequently Asked Questions About Public Rights of Way
How official rights of way data, local authority definitive maps, and property conveyancing intersect.
No, not without a formal legal diversion or extinguishment order through the local council — this is a lengthy, non-guaranteed process, not something a landowner can do unilaterally.
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