Public rights of way
Information about Public Rights of Way in Dorset can be found on the
Dorset County Council website.
Footpaths:
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Footpaths are for
walkers only and the signposts show a walking person. |
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In some cases
more elaborate signs are used: |
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The route of the
path can be marked with additional signs. |
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The Monarch's Way
Long Distance Route has its own waymarks: |
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as does the
MacMillan Way: |
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Bridleways:
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Bridleways can be
used by walkers, horse riders and cyclists and the signposts show a
horse and rider. |
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The route of the
bridleway can be marked with additional signs. |
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Other Public Rights of Way:
There are a number of other types
of Rights of Way. These include:
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Restricted Byway – walkers, horse riders,
cyclists and non-motorised vehicles can use this category. |
As below except
with a purple arrow and the words 'restricted byway' instead of ‘public
byway’. |
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Byway open to all traffic (BOAT) -
walkers, horse riders, cyclists and vehicles can use this category.
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These other types of Right of Way
are not recorded in Yeohead and Castleton at the moment.
Permissive Paths:
A permissive path is where a landowner has given special
permission for the public to walk across their land. This path is signed with a
green arrow 'permissive path'. The county council does not maintain these paths
and they are not recorded on the definitive map. The landowner may withdraw
their permission at any time.
There are no permissive paths
recorded in Yeohead and Castleton at the moment.
Cycle Routes:
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Cycle routes are
shown by the following signs:
National
routes are shown in red; Regional routes in blue |
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Maps
The following maps show public rights of way in Dorset.
- Public rights of way are shown on the
definitive map
which is a legal document.
The definitive map can be viewed at the
Countryside Access office in Dorchester during office hours, by appointment
only. Please contact the Countryside Access Team (Tel: 01305 221219; Email:
rightsofway@dorsetcc.gov.uk) at least 2 working days in advance, as they are
unable to admit visitors without a prior appointment.
- For recreational and navigational purposes the Ordnance Survey
Map: Explorer 129 Yeovil & Sherborne covers the area at a scale of 1:25,000. For
cycle routes the Ordnance Survey Tour 9 Travel Map covers Dorset, Somerset and
East Bristol and shows National and Regional cycle routes.
These maps can be purchased from Tourist
Information Centres, bookshops and stationers.
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Dorset Explorer is a web based mapping system provided by Dorset County that
provides information on Public rights of way in Dorset.
To see Public Rights of Way on the map open the
bar marked “Layers” and tick the boxes under the heading “Rights of Way”.
Users of rights of way
Users of rights of way must:
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Stay on the course of
a right of way and use it only in the manner allowed by its status
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Keep dogs under close
control (on a lead if necessary), and prevent them straying from the path or
use the countryside for dog toileting
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Close gates which are
found closed
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Follow the
Countryside Code
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