Riding on land with public access. Rights?

[gailt]

Can you?

The reason i ask is my daughter was stopped whilst riding out today, and told that this person, owns all the banks and paths around here, even owns part of the road that gives access to the town?? so she is happy for 100 cars and trucks and tractors to go on it but not a horse???

She has told my daughter she isnt allowed to ride on any of these banks etc...must be anti horse >

There are no signs, and no gates, i thought they were council owned, but i must be wrong, these are open tracks onto the roads and any tom fred or harry can walk them, as locals often do, they are used by most horse owners around here too, only one of them around a field is signed with public path, the rest have nothing. They are the only off road hacking around..how frustrating and annoying >

I told her, just to continue the way she has, unless some signs appear saying private no entry, am i right?

Does anyone know the bylaws??

 

[chunklovescooks]

She isn't "trespassing" therefore cannot be told or forced to get off the land unless she has intent to vandalize or damage property or land, if they are FOOTpaths or if she is on a footpath, she can be told to get off, as these are not bride-ways, as long as she is doing nothing wrong, and he lets others on the land, he cannot single her out (well he can) but its wrong.

 

[DipseyDeb]

Why don't you contact your local council to find out what the rights are....this person could be a complete nutter, who has no clain to the land at all!

 

[Donkeymad]

It seems unlikely that this person has any rights to stop your daughter, but I would suggest you contact the Local Council to find out the official status of all the land/paths/roads.

 

[gailt]

Yes your right, any idea what departmenet id need to talk to?

 

[angiebaby]

Your local Rights Of Way Officer , at your County Council offices should be able to help ,
I was once told by a woman that I wasn't allowed to ride past her house as she owned the road!! What a load of bo****ks, the road is a road that goes from one village to the other!

 

[gailt]

[ QUOTE ]
Your local Rights Of Way Officer , at your County Council offices should be able to help ,
I was once told by a woman that I wasn't allowed to ride past her house as she owned the road!! What a load of bo****ks, the road is a road that goes from one village to the other!

[/ QUOTE ]

Same here, they reacon they own part of that road??

 

[FAB_FERN]

Tell her to give her the fingers and ride off. lol see if she can catch her then.

I was told I couldn't ride through a wooded area once (to avoid main road) I said ok i'll go kill myself on the main road then shall I. I ignored and carried on.
I was also told on a open field I wasn't allowed on there. I said the sign says no golf and no dogs and you have a dog so don't tell me what I can and can't do. lol

 

[eriskaypony]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Your local Rights Of Way Officer , at your County Council offices should be able to help ,
I was once told by a woman that I wasn't allowed to ride past her house as she owned the road!! What a load of bo****ks, the road is a road that goes from one village to the other!

[/ QUOTE ]

Same here, they reacon they own part of that road??

[/ QUOTE ]

In Scotland adjacent landowners do in fact own the sub stratum on which the road is built. They have no authority over what happens on or to the road, but if the road ever fell into disuse, the land reverts to them. Not many people know that.

Up here we do not have the access problems the rest of the country has. We can go anywhere (except where it infringes privacy, where crops are growing and a couple of other sensible exceptions) for recreation. That includes riding, but excludes all forms of hunting. The other common sense restriction is that you must be travelling through the land, not using it for repetitive activity such as schooling.

 

[hellybelly6]

Eriskay, try telling that to some of the farmers out my way!!

 

[Cuffey]

NFU Scotland produce a leaflet
Public Access to Farmland
NFUS Access Officer is Sue Hilder
sue.hilder@nfus.org.uk
Ask for copies to give to farmers who do not appear to have heard about Land Reform in Scotland

 

[Madasmaz]

Also check your County Council website. Some of them now have interactive maps which are the actual definative maps showing all rights of way. Every bridleway, rupp, footpath BOAT will have its own classification. You may also see if you have a local bridleways group...although they are not always the most "helpful" bunch of people, as I am learning.

 

[PeterNatt]

On the assumption you are in England or Wales then you need to check with the Definitive Map Officer of your County Council to see if there are any public rights of way of Bridleway Status or higher over the land. If there are then these can be ridden by horse riders.

If not then you need to determine the ownership of the land.

If people have been riding the routes uninterupted for 12 continuous years or more then it may be possible to claim a route. However this would require evidence forms to be completed by all those that have ridden the route and then a claim being made. Your local BHS Bridleway officer would be able to help you.

I can provide you with contact details for your BHS Bridleway officer if you let me know which County you are in.