Bridleways - a few questions

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Christmas Crumpet

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We have recently moved house and so I am out every day learning new bridleways and rides. So far I have found that there is not a single one where I am in West Dorset (near Sherborne) that is totally passable.

They either have huge areas of bog, the trees have been left to grow over and you have to get off to get under them, fields are ring fenced with electric and no "gate" as it were to get through, I have had to take down the electric and stand on it to get horse over it, the signs are dreadful, the gates are dreadful (generally just laid across gaps and not attached to anything especially hinges), bridleway across a field with 2 horses in that go for your horse as you come through (so far no accidents but my horse is loosing patience!!) - you would think noone actually wanted the bridleways used!!

So who's job is it to keep these bridleways passable? Who cuts the trees down? Is anything done about the bogs across the tracks? Is it law that the farmers have to provide a right of way through a field if there is a bridleway there (in the electric fence field)?

Just curious to know about these things because I am rather disheartened at the moment!! I like using bridleways yet it seems as though there are hazards and problems on every one I've tried.
 
Have just been given the telephone number of the person I need to speak to. Now just need to make sure I have the exact details of which bridleways they are - am very bad at explaining things so need to have it all written down before speaking to him!!

Does anyone know whether they are supposed to do anything about bogs on the paths? I don't want to sound completely stupid when I speak to him but am really interested to know whether they can do anything? It seems silly that a vast majority of the bridleways are impassable due to the bogs (and this was before it had rained yesterday so without months and months of rain).
 
Bogs on the path would be a drainage problem, but it is stopping you from using the path so it is blocked as it is unuseable. Around here the County Council would normally sort the drainage if it was a matter of clearing out the ditches and putting down hardcore - resources allowed of course.

The farmer/landowner should really be clearing any fallen trees and vegetation, or if they don't the council should do it and send a bill.

If you look up the Ramblers website there are all the different laws and regulations and wording of letters if you need/want to make it an official complaint. Which it might come to.

Who is on the Local Access Forum for your county for equestrian users? Again, look that up on the CC website.

Is there a bridepath association in your area who could back you up.

If you contact the CC you need to make a note of when, who you spoke to and when they are going to do something about it. Get everyone you know to complain.

Here we have a reasonable relationship with the CC, but it has taken at least 10 years of work, and over. In some counties people never ride on bridlepaths as there is a low horse population and everyone mostly hunts so they never seem to need to hack out much, they just go over each other's land. (This is what I was told by a CC about an adjoining county)
 
I sympathise!
I moved yards last week and have not ridden myself yet but have walked out on foot with my daughter and her pony and was dissapointed to see that there are gates every few minutes on the bridleways and not one opens easily on foot forget about on board my new ex racer!!! not quite sure what i'm going to do but am quite worried tbh!
 
In our area ROWs are now managed by Highways at the council!

If they are bridleways suprised the ramblers havent got money allocated? My be worth contacting them too etc

Good luck, but they should be maintained
 
It is actually down to the local County Council to keep bridleways and footpaths open but doubt it they have any money for it.

The farmer is also has certain responsibilities too.

When I have been in a couple of areas where the b/paths have been neglected I have joined the local Riding Club and got work parties together in local areas and that has been sucessful

As for the bog area (I know what you mean I have the same in a couple of places in N Dorset) no one will take responsibility for them if they are on a boundary.
 
Where do you stand if your unsure somewhere is a bridleway? Can you get fined etc if riding of a footway rather than a bridleway?
 
As well as talking to the BHS and the Ramblers Association try the CTC (cycle touring club). Also try popping a pair of secatuers in your pocket for over hanging foliage.
 
Hollie15 said:
Where do you stand if your unsure somewhere is a bridleway? Can you get fined etc if riding of a footway rather than a bridleway?
Click to expand...

Get a map of the local area ie ordnance survey which shows them. You can go to your local council office and look up any that you are unsure of. Council offices hold definitive maps showing the status although I believe its 2026? that they will be logged as such (unless you can prove otherwise...hence the BHS getting involved etc in trying to save as many for the future as possible) I know in my area that what is on the sign is actually not the correct status. I have been told that by our ROW at the council(they are new signs as well). In fact I sometimes think the rules just get made up as they go along if it suits them????
 
It is the responsibility of the land owner to ensure that any ROW is maintained, be it council land, a farmer or even a home owner (a family friend has a public footpath through the bottom of her garden).

the council can fine the land owner if they don't do, or do the work themselves and bill the land owner.

a public footpath can be used as a bridleway as long as the land owner doesn't have an issue with this, the land owner can also complete a acceptance letter/form from the council allowing it to be re-designated.

Forget OS maps for ROW, they are often out of date and classifications have changed. All local and county councils have what is know as a 'definitive map', this is the up-to-date and correct information. Many of on their websites or will be posted out to you on request.
 
I would suggest in the first instance that you get a copy of the local Explorer Ordnance Survey Map of your area. You can buy these on line from Ordanance Survey. www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk
The landowner who's land the public right of way passes over is responsible for ensuring that the trees and hedges are kept clear and that any gates can be opened and closed from horseback.
The County Council is normally responsible for ensuring that the surface is in good condition.

I would write to the access department of your local county council and explain the problems that you are having (enclosing a map) and ask them to respond in writing. (Send your letter by Royal Mail Signed For) so that there is no doubt that they have received it. If you fail to hear from them within 2 weeks write to them again.

You can also contact your local BHS bridleway officer who will be only to pleased to assist you. If you want their contact details E-mail me with details of your nearest town and the county you are in. You can E-mail me on peter.natt@btinternet.com.

Peter Natt - BHS volunteer access officer
 
I've got the name and number of the ROW officer in our area who apparently is very helpful. A good friend works for the council too. I have got my Ordnance Survey map (bought it when we moved to find out where to ride) and got list ready to tell him what's wrong with what bridleway.

Thank you everyone for help. Am very glad to hear that the bogs might be able to be sorted. There are 2 bridleways close to me which would be ideal for using before work but at the moment, they are too boggy to even consider it.
 
What you will find, is that local councils do not have the money to spare, to work on Bridleways. In my part of Surrey, we have very strong bridlways groups and we try to raise money to help pay towards gates and re surfacing of paths. One path in particular was virtually un-passable in the winter, local riders clubbed together and we bought road planings to spread on the track. The Council did not support us, nor did they give us one penny towards it, but now we can all use the path. Sometimes you need to do something to help yourself. I have cleared many over hanging paths myself.
 
... also join your local BHS County Committee as you will learn a lot about bridleways from the other members and the bridleway officer.
 
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