OS Explorer (1:25,000) vs OS Landranger (1:50,000)
Ordnance Survey (OS) produces two primary national paper and digital mapping series for navigation across Great Britain. While both series display rights of way in England and Wales, their level of detail, scale, and cartographic symbology differ significantly.
For property due diligence, boundary verification, and rural navigation, OS Explorer (1:25k) is the mandatory professional benchmark because 4cm on the map represents exactly 1km on the ground, allowing individual field boundaries, stiles, gates, and contour lines to be viewed with pinpoint precision.
By contrast, OS Landranger (1:50k) is designed for broader vehicular and long-distance cycling exploration (2cm to 1km), rendering smaller domestic field footpaths harder to distinguish against parcel borders.
| Right of Way Type | OS Explorer (1:25k) Symbol | OS Landranger (1:50k) Symbol | Permitted Users | Legal Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Footpath | Short dashed green line | Short dashed magenta line | Pedestrians only (+ pushchairs/dogs) | Full legal highway |
| Public Bridleway | Long dashed green line | Long dashed magenta line | Walkers, horse riders, pedal bicycles | Full legal highway |
| Restricted Byway | Green line with alternating crosses | Magenta line with crosses | Pedestrians, horses, carriages (no motors) | Full legal highway |
| Byway Open to All (BOAT) | Green line with alternating Ts | Magenta line with Ts | All traffic including 4x4s & motorbikes | Full legal highway |
| Permissive Footpath | Orange or magenta dotted line | Magenta dotted line | Pedestrians by landowner goodwill only | Revocable by owner; not PRoW |
| Physical Track / Path | Black or red pecked line | Black pecked line | None (Physical feature only) | No public right of access implied |
Crucial Cartographic Disclaimers: OS Maps vs Definitive Maps
Every Ordnance Survey map carries an explicit statutory disclaimer in the marginalia:
'The representation on this map of any other road, track or path is no evidence of the existence of a right of way.'
While Ordnance Survey works closely with local highway authorities to incorporate Definitive Map data, OS maps are not conclusive legal records in a court of law. In boundary disputes or planning inquiries, the statutory Definitive Map and Statement held by the County or Unitary Council is the sole conclusive legal document under Section 56 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
In Scotland, the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 grants a statutory right of responsible access ('right to roam') across most land. Consequently, OS maps in Scotland do not show green or magenta PRoW dashed lines; instead, they depict Core Paths designated by local authorities.
Checklist for Reading Footpaths on OS Maps Accurately
When checking a route on an Ordnance Survey map or digital viewer: