Public Footpath Checker & Rights of Way (PRoW) Map
Free UK public footpath checker and public rights of way (PRoW) map by postcode. Check statutory footpaths, bridleways, and byways open to all traffic near or crossing any property using official Ordnance Survey data.
Quick Answer: How to Check for Public Rights of Way on Your Land (UK)
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.
Statutory Guides & Public Footpath Regulations
In-depth legal guidance covering the Highways Act 1980, landowner rights, garden boundaries, and property valuation.
Is Having a Public Footpath Next to a House a Problem?
Surveyor analysis of privacy, burglary risks along alleyways, boundary fencing maintenance, and 5%–10% valuation impacts.
Does a Public Footpath Through a Garden Devalue a House?
How rights of way across private curtilage impact RICS Red Book valuations (10%–20% discounts) and lender underwriting rules.
Rules for a Public Right of Way Through Private Land
Landowner duties under Section 130 and 137, statutory path widths (1m–1.5m), agricultural cultivation, and livestock laws.
Can a Landowner Block, Gate, or Divert a Public Footpath?
Strict legal process for Public Path Diversion Orders (PPO s119), penalties for locked gates, and council enforcement.
Difference Between Footpath, Bridleway, Byway & BOAT
Yellow vs Blue vs Plum vs Red waymarkers, legal rights for cyclists and horse riders, and NERC Act 2006 restricted byways.
UK Public Footpath Rules: Dogs, Cycling, E-Bikes & Repairs
Why cycling on footpaths is civil trespass, livestock worrying under the 1953 Act, and council vs landowner maintenance duties.
How to Find Public Footpaths and Rights of Way Maps for Free
Official Definitive Maps and Statements, OS OpenData vector maps, and historical map archives explained.
How Do I Find Public Footpaths Near Me?
Postcode search tools, local council ROWIP improvement plans, and CROW Act 2000 open access land navigation.
Can I See Public Footpaths on Google Maps in the UK?
Why Google Maps omits 140,000 miles of statutory PRoW, ghost path risks, and how to view Definitive Maps on mobile.
What is the 20-Year Rule for Public Rights of Way in England?
Deemed dedication rules, the 3 'as of right' tests (nec vi, nec clam, nec precario), and Section 31(6) deposits.
What is the Penalty for Blocking a Public Footpath in England?
Criminal penalties under Section 137, statutory 14-day Section 143 notices, barbed wire rules, and dairy bull bans.
Which OS Maps Show Public Footpaths in the UK?
OS Explorer 1:25k green dashes vs Landranger 1:50k magenta dashes, rights of way symbology, and open access land.
Frequently Asked Questions About Public Rights of Way
How official rights of way data, local authority definitive maps, and property conveyancing intersect.
Having a public footpath adjacent to a residential property can create privacy issues, noise, increased burglary risk along unlit alleyways, and litter. While it does not automatically stop a purchase, surveyor data indicates properties bordering unlit footpaths may experience a 5% to 10% valuation discount.
Full Property Due Diligence Brief
View all tools →Check Land Registry sold prices, flood risk zones, Tree Preservation Orders, local crime rates, and official council tax charges in our comprehensive report.
Public Footpaths, Bridleways & Access Rights Guides
Authoritative answers on Definitive Maps, Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, land diversion, and unadopted road maintenance.
Is Having a Public Footpath Next to a House a Problem in the UK?
Having a public footpath adjacent to a residential property can create privacy issues, noise, increased burglary risk, and litter along garden boundaries. While it does not automatically stop a purchase, surveyor data indicates properties bordering unlit footpaths or alleyways may experience a 5% to 10% valuation discount and extended time on market.
What Are the Rules for a Public Right of Way Through Private Land in the UK?
Under the Highways Act 1980, the public has a statutory right to pass and repass along a designated line on private land without deviation. Landowners cannot lock gates, erect barbed wire across paths, or introduce intimidating animals, but they retain rights to farm surrounding crops and maintain minimum statutory path widths (1m for field edge, 1.5m across cultivated fields).
What Are the UK Public Footpath Rules (Dogs, Cycling, and Maintenance)?
Under UK law, a public footpath is strictly for pedestrian use. Cycling or riding an e-scooter on a public footpath without landowner consent is trespass against the landowner and can breach local bylaws. Dogs must be kept under close control and on a short lead around livestock under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953.
How to Find Public Footpaths and Rights of Way Maps for Free in the UK?
You can access public rights of way maps for free by inspecting your local County or Unitary Council's statutory online Definitive Map and Statement, using Ordnance Survey OpenData via our free Footpaths Checker, or consulting the Ramblers Don't Lose Your Way historic mapping register.
What is the Difference Between a Public Footpath, Bridleway, and Byway?
In England and Wales, waymarker colors define statutory access rights: Yellow arrows denote Public Footpaths (pedestrians only), Blue arrows denote Bridleways (walkers, horse riders, and pedal cyclists), Plum arrows denote Restricted Byways (non-motorised vehicles including horse carriages), and Red arrows denote Byways Open to All Traffic (BOATs, open to 4x4s and motorcycles).
How Do I Find Public Footpaths and Walking Rights of Way Near Me?
To find public footpaths near you: (1) Enter your postcode into our free Public Footpath Checker to plot all statutory PRoW paths within 250m. (2) Consult your local highway authority's interactive rights of way portal. (3) Inspect Ordnance Survey Explorer (1:25,000 scale) maps which mark legal rights of way with green dashed lines.
Can a Landowner Block, Gate, or Divert a Public Footpath in the UK?
No. Under Section 137 of the Highways Act 1980, willfully obstructing a public right of way is a criminal offence punishable by council enforcement notices and magistrates' court fines. A landowner cannot unilaterally divert a path; they must apply to the local council for a formal Public Path Diversion Order under Section 119 of the Highways Act 1980.
Does a Public Footpath Through a Garden Devalue a House in the UK?
Yes. A public right of way running through a private domestic garden or driveway typically reduces market value by 10% to 20% due to loss of privacy, dog interference, and liability risks. Mainstream mortgage lenders may request an environmental or legal report, and extinguishing an ancient footpath requires proving it is entirely commodious and unnecessary.