The Rights of Way team

The rights of way network is mostly in the countryside, which is about 500 miles long.   The Rights of Way team looks after these countryside paths together with some paths in towns and villages, but the majority of paths with a tarmac surface, along with shared use/cycle tracks, are maintained by Island Roads

The Rights of Way team’s maintenance responsibility includes cutting path surfaces and providing directional signage at road ends.   Countryside waymarking is provided in most places.  However, the use of a map or a phone app (with rights of way data e.g. Ordnance Survey)) is recommended. The team is also required to ensure that paths are free from obstruction and nuisance.

The team maintains the Definitive Map and Statement (legal record of public rights of way).

If you find a problem on the network then please report it to us by clicking on the link at the top of the main Public Rights of Way page.

Sometimes paths need to be closed for health and safety reasons, particularly those in coastal areas where there is a likelihood of erosion and landslip.   Our Path Closures tab on the main Public Rights of Way page is kept up to date and should be viewed before using the paths and ways.