Ordnance Survey Question

[AuntPollyGrey]

Could anyone please tell me the difference on an Ordenance Survey Map between a dotted line which states, 'Public Footpath', and a faint dashed line which states 'Path'. Do both have the legal right of way for walkers?

I am asking because my daughter was stopped by a landowner who told her she was on private land, even though she had her map with her that showed where she was walking as a 'path'.

I can't find any info on the ordnance survey site.

Many Thanks.

[dannyk13]

I would assume that it means what it says, both are paths with one of them open to the public.

[woofgang]

explained here https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/14320/difference-between-a-path-and-a-footpath

[TonyV]

Don't have a current ordinance map to hand at the moment, I've been led to believe that many landowners don't want Joe Public using a footpath for lots of reasons, I will ask a friend who should know.

[AuntPollyGrey]

Woofgang -just what I needed -many thanks.

[woofgang]

you are welcome :)

[Jonathan-Joe]

On OS Explorer maps, public rights of way are shown in green, on Landranger maps, in pink. A path shown by a black, pecked line is not a public right of way.

[calmck]

We have public footpath and bridal way on our land in the UK. They are all signposted with wooden sign. They have to be walked at least once a year to keep them "public". I think, but am Not sure! If they do not have a signpost they are not public

[AuntPollyGrey]

Just to clarify: this is an ordnance map for footpaths and bridleways. The words 'Public Footpath' are printed on the map, the way marked with a dotted line. The words 'Path' are printed on the map, the way marked with a faint grey dashed line.

[calmck]

Could it be a "permissive byway". The landowner gives but can withdraw permission for its use. Usually shown on 1:25000 maps

[AuntPollyGrey]

It might be a permissive byway, but the landowner informed my daughter she had no right of way on the Path, so I doubt it.

[Peter Pedant]

// They have to be walked at least once a year to keep them "public". I think, but am Not sure! If they do not have a signpost they are not public//

so what is the short answer path/public ? - one is not public?

very very common for farmers to tear down signs and insist that there is no public footpath across their land. Jesus - hence the need for a map.

need to keep the path open - no not since the 1967 act BUT the path has to registered. and the registration and extinction process was attended by all sorts of perjury
( a brighton case - a 10 y o was seen on the 360th day... etc) - oh no he wasnt etc etc

Landowners come it on a regular basis - and dont stop short of bullying 12 y olds. such as "this is not a public right !" er when it is.
I got this all the time when I ran with a labby.
keep cool

[Peter Pedant]

// believe that many landowners don't want Joe Public using a footpath for lots of reasons,//

mainly because they think it will lead to extrinction - see ramblers assoc site - and then they can sell it footpath free.

[Zacs-Master]

From the link:
‘A path indication on the map means that when the mapper mapped it there was physically a path on the ground. It gives no indication as to who is or is not allowed to use that path.’

Would seem to be pretty definitive.

[Peter Pedant]

one time the landowner had built a private road - (true) over the line of a footpath
and tackled me an ma dawg over privacy and use
and I said " what the public footpath just ends in the middle of field?"

[Peter Pedant]

dam the old bagga cd have been right

[benhilton]

This is from a long while ago , when I was still at school (40 years )
We had an abso;utely brilliant geography teacher who would take groups of us on mountain walks . He taught me everything I know about navigating in the mountains .
He always used to say follow the small black and white lines because they were the result of a full survey by the OS whereas the coloured ones were added at the reprint stage based on info sent to the OS by local authorities , and the info was not always accurate .
As I say this was a long while ago ( .... when Carned Gwenllian was still Carnedd Uchaf... )

[Buenchico]

Your question has largely been answered by others. (i.e. a 'path' isn't necessarily a public right of way. Indeed, it almost certainly isn't).

However I will point out that the best place to check up on the status of public rights of way (if that's what they actually are) isn't on OS maps but on the website of the relevant council, as it's those councils which are legally responsible for maintaining up-to-date records of such paths, rather than the OS. (In rural areas that's generally a county council. Elsewhere it might be a metropolitan council or a unitary authority). You'll probably then need to work out which parish the relevant path is in before you can consult the map.

To find such maps, google 'definitive map public rights of way', together with the name of the council. For example, if I do that for my home county of Suffolk, I end up here:
https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/public-rights-of-way-in-suffolk/view-definitive-maps-of-public-rights-of-way/

Clicking through to my local parish takes me here:
https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/assets/Roads-and-transport/public-rights-of-way/Needham-Market.pdf
(One needs to click the 'zoom in' button several times to be able to view the map clearly).

The symbols used on such maps are the same across the whole of the country and are shown here on the Gloucestershire County Council website:
https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/media/1520494/mainreception-userguidejun18.pdf

The definitive maps held by councils don't show permissive footpaths and bridleways though. They only appear on OS maps (or on maps from 'unofficial' sources, such as those drawn up by local walking groups).

The symbols used on OS maps, together with their meanings, are shown here:
https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/newsroom/blog/right-to-roam-public-rights-of-way

[AuntPollyGrey]

Buenohico Thank you very much for that extremely useful information and links, and to everyone else that contributed. I've passed on the info to my daughter