Hacking - The Law? Websites?

L

LittleSoph

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26 June 2008
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Essex
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I've moved to a new yard and have nooo idea about where I can and can't hack. The liveries don't seem very clued up either as most of them are jumping mad kids and don't venture out for long ambles around the country like I'd like to...

So I guess it's going to be a case of trial and error.

I just wondered if anyone knew the law about hacking on fields/down tracks, etc. if there are any?
What would you do? Just suck it and see, just find your way around and risk going somewhere you aren't allowed? Or find out for certain (somehow?
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) where you allowed to venture?

Also, does anyone know any good websites for mapping out routes, etc.?

Thanks
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Buy yourself an Ordnance Survey map of your area and that will tell you where the bridleways are. You can ride on bridleways but not on footpaths and the two are marked differently on the map. Bridleways are marked with green dashes and footpaths are marked by green shorter dashes that are a lot closer together.
Please do get some knowledge of where the actual bridlewasy are and do not be tempted to ride wherever you like or by trial and error as that is wrong and annoys landowners terribly.
You can buy maps etc from www.bridleways.co.uk
 
Check with the local council, mine were great and printed me out lots of maps.also see if you have a local bridleways association they are great help too you may even find new hacking buddies.
Good luck
 
As has been said get a local Ordnance Survey Map & have a good look at it. Then to clarify where you want to ride contact your local 'Rights of Way Officer' at the council & he'll be able to help you.
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Get a good ordnance survey map. You can ride on council roads, bridleways, restricted byways and byways open to all traffic (but these have usually been wrecked by 4x4s in my experience). You can often ride in forestry too, check in your local area as you sometimes require a permit.

Try and get friendly with the local farmers if you can. They may allow you to use field edges or set a side if you can convince them you won't go hooning around their crops or disturbing livestock.

And if you end up somewhere you shouldn't be, apologise profusely!
 
Where abouts are you? There's lots of places to go and in essex there are also the farm rides which you can subscribe to (if you are in the right area).

There is also the essex bridleways association, they should be able to help, they also do rides and give other information of how to find out www.essexbridleways.co.uk
 
I'm in Tolleshun Darcy Iconique.
Have had a look at an online Ordinance Survey map and it doesn't seem to coinside with google sattelite maps... as in the bridleways seem to go right through the middle of crop fields, lol.
Perhaps the best idea would be to cycle the routes first and speak to farmers along the way to see if we're allowed to ride them.
 
I would have thought if the marked bridleway goes across the middle of a field full of crops it is courtesy to stick to the edge of the field rather than trample the crop? No one grows crops round here so I've never had this situation!
 
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I would have thought if the marked bridleway goes across the middle of a field full of crops it is courtesy to stick to the edge of the field rather than trample the crop? No one grows crops round here so I've never had this situation!

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You will often find that farmers leave unseeded path through the middle of crop field exactly where the bridleway runs
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Buy yourself an Ordnance Survey map of your area Either the Landranger Range (Number 167 covers Chelmsford Harlow and Bishop's Stortford) or the Explorer Range (195 covers Saffron Walden Bishops Stortford and Braintree and 184 covers Colchester and West Mersea)

You are allowed to ride along public rights of way of the following status bridleways, restricted byways, byways and RUPPS.

Farmers and Landowners are allowed to plough up and seed bridleways that diagonally cross a field but must reinstate the bridleway within 14 days. If they fail to do this simply contact the local access officer at your County Council or your local BHS bridleway officer and they will sort it out.
 
There may also be permissive paths in your area - we're able to get a permit to ride in part of a local country park if we join a local riding club that has arranged this and a few other fields to ride round. I'd google for a local riding club and see if they've anything organised around your area.
 
You can order a "made to measure" OS map from their website centred on a specific postcode. It's brilliant if, like me, you would need to buy 3 standard maps to cover all your immediate area.
The DEFRA website will also have details of any temporary concessionary bridleways. We had quite a few near me for about 3 years & they were great in winter as hardly anyone new about them so they kept in good condition.
 
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