Public rights of way
The extensive network of public rights of way in the Yorkshire Dales National Park is one of the primary assets of the area and it is used by the majority of visitors. Over the years, the Authority has tried to develop and manage a sustainable network of routes to enable sympathetic use and enjoyment of the National Park. There are two main elements of this work:
- Keeping the legal record of rights of way up to date through the continuous review of the Definitive Map
- The physical maintenance and improvement of the rights of way network (visit the Our Ranger Services section of the website to find out more)
For these functions, we are the delegated Highway and Surveying Authority on behalf of the County Councils.
The Definitive Map provides a legal record of the location of public rights of way and the public rights known to exist at any point in time. Within the National Park, there are 1,458km of footpaths, 625km of bridleways and 31km of byways open to all traffic.
Where you can go
Public rights of way, excluding the road network, fall into three categories: footpaths, bridleways and byways open to all traffic.
Footpaths
Footpaths are for use on foot only. There is no right of way for horse riders or cyclists.
Bridleways
These are for use on foot, on a horse or on a pedal cycle, but not in a motor vehicle, in a horse and cart, or on a motorcycle.
Byways
A byway open to all traffic is available for any mode of transport, i.e. on foot, on a horse, on a pedal cycle or motorcycle, or in a motor or horse-drawn vehicle. However, they are mainly for use as footpaths or bridleways and are usually unsurfaced and often not suitable for motor vehicles.
In addition to these paths, access is also available in a few other situations, as detailed below.
Open Access - for information about Open Access land designated under the Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act 2000, please visit the Open Access section of our website.
Permissive paths - permissive paths are where a landowner allows the public access over private property with permission. There is no statutory legal right to use these routes. There may be a charge for use of some of these paths in the National Park, for example, the Ingleton Waterfalls Walk, the route through the grounds of Ingleborough estate at Clapham, and the path to Hardraw Force.
Temporary closure of rights of way
There are occasions when a path may need to be closed for a period, for example to allow restoration works, or for reasons of public safety. These temporary closures are advertised in the local press for the area of the closure and they are listed on the current closures section of this website. The period of closure and the alternative routes will be indicated by site notices and maps.
Help or advice on any of these matters may be obtained from the Authority's Definitive Map Team. If you need to report a problem or issue relating to the condition of a public right of way, please contact the appropriate Area Ranger. Visit the Our Ranger Services section for more information.
Contact details
Definitive Map Team
Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority
Colvend
Grassington
Skipton
North Yorkshire
BD23 5LB
0870 1 666333
