Paths and Routes

Wales has a wealth of paths and routes. Whether you use them to explore the landscape, keep fit or to get from A to B, paths and routes provide the main means for us to enjoy the countryside and green spaces.

You can find out about where these paths and routes are and plan trips by using our Outdoor Wales onLine interactive maps to find out where you can go and what you can do. Outdoor Wales onLine provides links to other useful information, including further details about particular sites or routes, accommodation, public transport and the latest weather forecast.

Paths and Routes are being improved across the whole of Wales as local authorities implement their Rights of Way Improvement Plans with funding and help from the Welsh Government and CCW.

Public Rights of Way

There are around 33,000km (20,750 miles) of paths known as public rights of way in Wales, and you have a right to use them. There are different categories depending on what you can use them for:

• Most routes are footpaths which can be used by walkers. (79%)
• Other routes are bridleways which can be used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders, (15%)
• There are also some routes known as byways: Restricted byways, which can be used by the same groups as bridleways whilst also allowing horse drawn carriages and other non-motorised vehicles and Byways, which are open to all traffic, including vehicles, such as motor bikes. (16%)
• People using wheelchairs can use all of the above routes if they are suitable.

Public rights of way hold a special protected status by being included in definitive maps and statements.

Restrictions which may apply to areas of land with public access under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act do not apply to public rights of way crossing this land.

There are also routes that are permissive, which means that the landowner has given permission for people to use the route even though they are not generally shown on maps and are not permanent. Permissive paths provided under agri environment incentive schemes such as Glastir will be shown on our Outdoor Wales onLine maps.

Cycle tracks are another type of public route created especially for cycling, sometimes you can walk and ride horses on them too. The National Cycling Network includes many of these routes and is publicised by Sustrans whose website details are shown below. You can go mountain biking on bridleways, restricted byways and byways, and some areas have developed networks of permissive routes.

Some routes that are particularly special have been designated as National Trails - the Trails cover a long distance and pass through stunning landscape. All are open for walking and some trails are also suitable for cyclists, horse riders and people with limited mobility.

Other routes which have guidebooks or are particularly useful in some way are also promoted. You can find some of these on our Outdoor Wales onLine maps and other sources, for example, Ordnance Survey maps and Local authority websites.

Signs and Symbols used in the Countryside

When you are out and about paths that are public rights of way should be signposted and tell you which of the above categories they are. There are also uniform markers which show you.

Get to know the signs and symbols used in the countryside to show the different types of paths.

We want to ensure that the network of public rights of way is:

• in excellent condition and easy to use
• accurately described, so that people know what's out there!
• well publicised and easy to find out about

Local Access Forums

Support from the Welsh Government to local authorities means that progress to improve paths and routes has been given a boost. The Rights of Way Improvement Plan programme which includes work to improve paths on the ground and the accuracy of definitive maps has made a significant contribution to these aims.

Local Access Forums provide an opportunity to get involved in improving access to the countryside and greenspace. The National Access Forum also represents user and land management interests in relation to Wales wide access issues.