Byways - Are Horses Allowed?

3Beasties

3Beasties

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Are horses allowed down public byways?

And are byways marked with a little red arrow?

I found what looks like a lovely little track when I was exploring today but I wasn't sure if I was allowed down it on my horse. The start of the track was marked with a footpath sign but further down it was what I think was a byway sign!

I'm desperate for some off road riding :(
 
Not sure about the little red arrows, but yes, you can ride on byways - as can off-road vehicles and bikes :-(
Good luck with finding more off-road riding!
 
Yes, you can ride on a byway, which are marked with the red arrows. You can't ride on a footpath but a quick phone call to your local Rights Of Way Officer at the County Council should let you know if it's ok to access the path. It should be as it wouldn't make sense to have the path impossible to reach.
 
A byway is signposted with a little white sign saying byway.

There are a few that aren't, but the best and sometimes only way to know is to either buy an os map or download one for your area. It will show you the byways marked with a constant like of green + symbols. Like this...

+++++++++++++++++

Hope that worked. There are some restricted byways, where motorised vehicles are restricted access. There are also some byways that have TCO on them which is a temporary closure.

The way to find out what restrictions/closures are in place is a quick call to your local council or a look on their website under the rights of way section.

Good luck, sounds like it'll be lovely if you can use it.
 
Byways are open to horses and yes, they are marked with red arrows the same as bridleways are marked with blue. Enjoy!
 
Humm, just looked on an OS map and it is marked as a footpath not a byway, despite having a red arrow down the path!
 
Yes they are however you may find that like in our area we now have footpaths that suddenly turn into byways or bridleways, but the only way to reach bridleway etc is down a footpath.The Bridleways or Byways are landlocked by footpaths. I know we lost paths due to ramblers having walking bridges put in to stop horses etc jumping small ditches where horses had ridden for years. We cannot access those routes anymore and because there are more of them than horseriders we are outnumbered.

Old historical maps show routes that are Bridleways were once BOAT or Green Lanes. Unfortunately due to all the ROW changes and updates if they arent used the council seem to classify them as they see fit(around our way I have been told horses use to go along certain footpaths but if you try to ask a walker they will say NO never) Yet these routes have farm gates all along them? If you cannot find out for sure but can find some real locals ex horseriders from years ago and see if it was used you could with their help ie sworn declarations and proof get them reinstated or upgraded via Modification order. The forms will be on your council website.

Or contact BHS. Good luck though.
 
Byway classified as BOAT Byway Open To All Traffic
Byway classified as RUPP Road Used as Public Path

Most Councils have done all they can to close or downgrade Byways over the years because it is cheaper and they have been led by the nose by the SS Ramlers Gestapo association who think they should be the only people allowed to go Off Road.
 
We have two bridleways in our area, both marked as footpaths on the OS map but clearly as bridleways on the ground. It would definitely be worth getting in touch with the ROW officer as the maps may not be upto date.
 
indie999 said:
Yes they are however you may find that like in our area we now have footpaths that suddenly turn into byways or bridleways, but the only way to reach bridleway etc is down a footpath.The Bridleways or Byways are landlocked by footpaths. I know we lost paths due to ramblers having walking bridges put in to stop horses etc jumping small ditches where horses had ridden for years. We cannot access those routes anymore and because there are more of them than horseriders we are outnumbered.

Old historical maps show routes that are Bridleways were once BOAT or Green Lanes. Unfortunately due to all the ROW changes and updates if they arent used the council seem to classify them as they see fit(around our way I have been told horses use to go along certain footpaths but if you try to ask a walker they will say NO never) Yet these routes have farm gates all along them? If you cannot find out for sure but can find some real locals ex horseriders from years ago and see if it was used you could with their help ie sworn declarations and proof get them reinstated or upgraded via Modification order. The forms will be on your council website.
Or contact BHS. Good luck though.
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Indie, if you are where I think you are.

In the 1950's the parish council both in your village and the next village (S) were asked to confirm classification of rights of way for the new maps. The big land owners just happened to be chair of the parish councils and hey presto, all the bridleways on their land became footpaths!!!!

In you case when you leave their land you also cross from N Herts to E Herts and the footpaths miraculously become bridleways.

In fact there is at least one path that is clearlt signed at it's E Herts end as a bridleway with a destination in N Herts which is only reached on a footpath.

When we lived there we rode on all footpaths that we knew had historically been bridleways, just usually made sure it was from the direction that was signed.
 
Ok imo horses have feet, so technically they can go down footpaths, If your sensible and dont go hell for leather i'd just pop down the track and have a look. Farmers round here tend to just dig up all the hedges and fences to make one big field, but at the same time if you stick to the edge of the field they dont mind.
 
There are LOTS of these bridlepath/footpath differences where counties join, depending on who was on the Parish Council in 1949.

Maybe this issue is addressed in your County's Rights of Way Improvement Plan, which should be on the cc's website.

Don't trust an OS map, there are mistakes. The Definitive Map is held by the County Council. There are quite of lot of places where local riders go although not marked on the map, but people are cautious of making an official claim in case it opens a can of worms and they get a gate across the path. The problem is that if the land changes hands, the new landowner is usually quick to stop people if there isn't a Right of Way on the definitive map. Happened locally to a ride that was ridden for YEARS, but the new owner blocked the way that had been used, which meant that people went round and when he finally blocked if off and there was an official enquiry there was different evidence from riders who had ridden the original route, and later ones who had ridden the alternative route, and the case was lost.
 
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