What to do about rubbish bridleway?

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Christmas Crumpet

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We have a few bridleways around here but there are 2 particularily bad ones - they are hock deep in clay and basically impassable even in summer (when its not been raining). It is not the entire bridleways that are impassable but little stretches of them.

As a result, one I do not use which is a shame because it would be a fab little circle to do. The other one I do use but instead of riding on the whole way on the track, I wind through the trees about 6 ft off the track to avoid the bogs and its fine.

I have not used said bridleway for about 3 months as my horse has been off. However, she is back in work now and it was this morning when I rode past the entrance to bridleway that there is a sign on there staying "Private Woodland... stick to the bridleway". Fairly self explanatory!!

However, it is a public right of way and so what happens when the public right of way is impassable to the public. As far as I can see 6ft to the right of the bridleway through some trees is not the same as riding on a mown verge to avoid bogs or going through fields which are def. not on the bridleway. I know I have been basically trespassing by not sticking rigidly to the track but you can't - you'll sink never to be seen again!!

Strangely enough the ground where I wind through the trees never even shows any hoofprints - its very dry despite only being 6ft away from the bogs.

Obviously I would rather stick to the track if I knew you could actually get from one end to the other without sinking but you can't. Who is responsible for ensuring that the bridlepath is passable? I have already rung the bridleway man who said "ooh yes, we know its very bad but there's nothing we can do about it". Does that mean its a lost cause?

If I am not allowed to stray off the path to avoid the bogs then I shall just have to stop using the bridleway which is such a shame because its really handy.

What can I do?
 
Contact your local council access officer and BHS access officer?

I've found them helpful with similar issues where right of way's have been blocked by land owners.
 
Echo above although this situation is not blocked by the landowner but the condition of the ground.
TBH, if I owned the woodland, I'd be peeved at you using it too because it is not part of the track and you shouldn't encroach on private ground even if it's not 'a mown strip of grass'.
I don't know where you are but our council have been resurfacing BWs lately; this sounds like it needs digging out to base level and re-building. They do have a duty to make sure it's accessible so chivy them up. Your BHS rep should be able to help too, that's what you (I) pay my sub for TBH but around here they are totally useless.
 
Maesfen - agreed about being peeved about me straying off the path. I wouldn't do it if the actual bridleway was passable - it just wouldn't be an issue. I don't know who the landowner is so I can't actually say anything to them to apologise but point out that I've not been joyriding over their land - just trying to use the bridleway without sinking into a bog.
 
You aren't allowed to deviate off the BP route, even if it is because it's wet and boggy. The problem is where does the deviation stop, before you know it people will be making new tracks elsewhere in the wood.

You need to contact your local Council and ask if they can help, but be prepared for them to say they have no money. In my area a group of us got together to buy a few loads of road planings, we got a farmer to dump them on the BP and hey presto, everyone can use a safe track again.

Our council said they had no money and would not help, but it didn't take much organisation to get the track improved. Horse riders need to get off their bums and help themselves.
 
If you don't know who owns the land then ask at the nearest farm/property as they should know for sure; we knows who owns most stuff for a 5 mile radius, most people do in rural areas. If that doesn't work ask your council ROW office or look online for the tithe maps, that should help too.

Agree with BigRed completely, all riders should be willing to help maintain the BWs they want to use in hard pressed times as these are.
 
In the first instance write to the senior access officer at your local County Council. You should find the address on your local County Councils web site. Enclose a map showing where the bridleway is and also the parts that are impassible. Ask them to confirm receipt of your letter and advise you what action they will be taking. I would suggest writing by Royal Mail Special Delivery so that there is no doubt that they have received your letter. (Keep a copy of your letter).
 
You are allowed to find a way round if the path is blocked, and if it is blocked by impassable mud that is dangerous, then find a way round.

It sounds as though the drains need digging out, is it also overgrown so the sun (???) can't get at it. Are thre other local riders who can complain too? Contact your Rights of Way office and the BHS local bridleway officer. There might be a bridleway group as well.
Find out if there is anything you can do as volunteers to improve it - through the County Council.

In extremis, you can serve a notice on the County Council to compel them to do something about it.
 
I had a simular problem but just one bridleway which led out so we really were stuck. I printed off the local authority phone number and link for online complaining then took it to other local yards and handed them out. I also put a notice in the bridleway saying please complain near the boggy areas. The more people you can get to complain, the better.

They dont seem to take it seriously when its just one person complaining unless someone has been hurt.

It did take us ages but eventually its now sorted.
 
Thank you everyone for your input - I've already spoken to our local rights of way man (more than once, I swear I hear him sigh when he realises its me moaning again!!). There doesn't seem to be a bridleways group but I will get in touch with the BHS person.

I will let you all know what happens.
 
We had a bridle path running alongside our boundary fences, thorny bushes overhead risking eyes, gorse and nettles growing over the path, reduced the bridleway to single file, I contacted the ROW officer at our local council and explained that we had tall horses and felt we risked life and limb going down the bridlepath.
Once the birds had finished nesting, there was a workman sent to cut back the vegatation, with amazing results, we could ride two abreast, I had taken clippers down myself and cut some back, but the council did a sterling job,
 
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