Can you ride on a footpath if you own the land?

Mince Pie

Mince Pie

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As title really, looking at a property that has a footpath running through it, if you go up the footpath for about 200 yards it leads onto a bridleway network. Getting on to the network without using the footpath is difficult but not impossible so I was wondering that if I own the section of footpath that I would need to use could I ride down it?
 
You can ride on footpaths if you have the permission of the land owner over which it runs (guessing you'll give this to yourself!).
 
There is a footpath running through several of my YO's fields and I always ride along it as have her permission to ride in the fields and the footpath takes a nice route. Obviously I wouldn't if I was churning it up/ making a mess, but luckily the land is very dry.
 
Broke_But_Happy said:
As title really, looking at a property that has a footpath running through it, if you go up the footpath for about 200 yards it leads onto a bridleway network. Getting on to the network without using the footpath is difficult but not impossible so I was wondering that if I own the section of footpath that I would need to use could I ride down it?
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I wouldn't advise it ideally.

It would not be the 'normal' offence of of civil trespass against the landowner, as you are the landowner!) but could still be if there is a local authority traffic regulation order on it but consider the following additional risks:

It may be deemed obstruction of other users (since footpaths are often narrow and not designed for horses) which would be counted as a public nuisance
It could even be criminal damage if there is significant damage caused to the surface, this would be a criminal 'tort' against the highway authority
And also, if you ride on there, it will mean every other rider in the district will if it's possible start doing it, which will create bad feeling.

Now, if you could create an exit off your land to the start of the bridleway without going on the footpath, no one could object, ( tho you may need to fasten it to stop walkers (and riders) treating your land as an extension of the bridleway)

Hope this helps!
 
Legally you can, if the '200 yards' is actually on your land (and not a strip footpath leading from your fields through which it crosses), but if the path is narrow I'd consider resurfacing, to preempt any complaints from the rambler brigade!
 
I would think that you can use it, however you would have to keep the footpath clean, as in not churned up, or you would be liable to complaints from walkers etc. I would keep the gateway locked so that only you can get onto it, and a stile for walkers next to it, otherwise other people will just use it.
 
There's absolutely nothing stopping you designating it a 'permissive bridleway' if you own it. I wish more land owners would do this for little bits of track / footpath which link stranded bridleways.
 
Yes, we have footpaths across our fields and i wont be avoiding them. It's usually allowed with landowners permission and seeing as you would be the landowner then i see little problems.
 
Yep, we have footpaths running over our fields at my livery yard. We ride along the footpaths although they are field edges rather than narrow paths.

The only issue is occasionally being surprised by a dog or jogger :-)
 
When I applied for my firearms and shotgun certificates, I had to fill in a form giving myself permission to shoot on my own land and send it to the police. Your taxes hard at work again...

I have 2 footpaths across my land and was driving the car along 1 of them today. Its the easiest way to transport water to the 2 furthest paddocks. I also take the tractor and muck trailer along the same one to get to the muck heap.
 
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Yes you can use it as a bridleway. A couple of my fields in England had public footpaths running alongside them which were still on my land and I gave all local riders permission to ride along them. As the landowner you would be responsible for keeping them in good order but it's up to you what you choose to use the land for that the footpath is on.
 
Oh this is very interesting, I didn't think a footpath necessarily meant you could ride on them? We used to get told off by a farmer for riding on a foot path but it was the only way that you could get to the bridleway! very interesting indeed :)
 
What I would like to know is under what authority ,do the local councils grant permission for cyclists to ride on other peoples land ,along footpaths and bridleways.
 
Mike007 said:
What I would like to know is under what authority ,do the local councils grant permission for cyclists to ride on other peoples land ,along footpaths and bridleways.
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Don't they have to get off and push their bikes on footpaths? and maybe on bridleways (but I'm not sure about that), most of my local lanes are byways open to all traffic except 4 wheeled vehicles (which are banned). I also ride on footpaths but have special permission from the landowner.
 
Broke_But_Happy said:
Would it be better as a permissive bridleway or a PROW?
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It would be better for you as the landowner to open it as a permissive bridleway, that way if there are any disagreements you are entitled to remove the designation as bridleway status. If you decide to sell the land on in future it will be slightly less attractive to buyers with a PROW there as opposed to a permissive access.
 
I would simply do as suggested and put a locked gate next to the bridleway, OP. You don't need to designate it as anything if only you are using it.
 
Yes you are able to ride through anything that is owned by you even if it's a footpath, Anybody can as long as they have land owner permission. Hoping can ask landowner of a very nice footpath of whom she takes her horses on because it has lovely gallops :D
 
Clava said:
Don't they have to get off and push their bikes on footpaths? and maybe on bridleways (but I'm not sure about that), most of my local lanes are byways open to all traffic except 4 wheeled vehicles (which are banned). I also ride on footpaths but have special permission from the landowner.
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So would you be allowed to lead your horse along a footpath?
 
Landowner can use their own land for any lawful purpose. I drive along a bridleway daily as it is my drive -others may not drive along it without permission.

It is ridiculous to suggest that someone has to allow others to use a footpath as a bridleway if they want to use it themselves but they must keep the footpath passable for permitted users.
 
There is a footpath running through the top of my horses fields and its the only flat place I have to school to in theory I ride on a foot path but tbh ive never even considered it that way before!
 
Of course you can ride on and footpath if you own the land and so can anyone you give permission to.
I ride on foot paths all the time because I have the permission of the local farmers
You would be liable to maintain the path if it was damaged that's all.
OP get on and enjoy what is after all your property .
 
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