Yes to your question. Which is precisely why I led you through one step at a time.
For MOST bridleways and footpaths, the land on which the path sits IS physically owned by the landowner (of the field etc. in which it is in). The landowner is not permitted to close the path off though, because over a period of many years (normally 20+) a right of way has been established for passage by the general public. This is precisely what a public right of way is. The restriction on what can be taken down the path depends on the category of the path - on foot for a footpath, on foot or horse, with a cart for a bridleway etc.
Some landowners are very keen on shutting these paths off and trying to extniguish the public right of way.
Your friend appears to have an additional right - which is a PRIVATE right of way - a legal contract between the owner of her bit of land (her) and this landowner over the same piece of track. This appears from what you say, though, to give her no advantage because, as a member of a public, she is entitled to go down there anyway. Some PRIVATE rights of way may have additional rights above the category - so say a landowner may have a private right of way to entitle him to take a motor vehicle down a public bridleway - which under normal events is illegal for a member of the public to do.
Is this clear now?
Note - the records of what paths are owned as Common Land is normally held by the COUNTY council - not your local council.