There are some 1,400 kilometres of
public rights of way in Suffolk Coastal comprising of four
main types:
- Public footpaths.
- Bridleways.
- Restricted byways.
- Byways open to all traffic (BOAT).
The public's right is one to pass and repass along the route.
The routes are recorded on definitive maps of public rights of way
and are shown
on Ordnance Survey maps (new window).
Protection and maintenance of rights of way in Suffolk
is the responsibility
of Suffolk County Council (new window), who are
also responsible for ensuring that all public rights of way
are available for appropriate use by the public.
Suffolk Coastal District Council deals with requests to create,
divert or extinguish public footpaths and bridleways.
The definitive map and statement
Public footpaths, bridleways, roads used as public paths (RUPPs)
and byways (BOATs) are recorded on definitive maps and statements.
In Suffolk a definitive map and definitive statement exists for
each parish in the county, except for the borough of Ipswich.
Suffolk Coastal holds copies of the definitive map and statement
for each parish and town in the district at our
offices
in Woodbridge. These are available for viewing at
reception without appointment.
Responsibility for their preparation and review rests with
Suffolk County Council. Together, the map and statement provide
conclusive legal evidence of the public rights of way in each
parish. However, the omission of a path from the definitive map and
statement cannot be taken as evidence that no right of way exists.
Suffolk County Council maintains registers of claims and anomalies
about inaccuracies on the definitive maps and statements. You
should
contact Suffolk County Council (new window) if you
think the definitive map is inaccurate.
Follow this link for more information about
the definitive map and statement (new
window).
Public footpaths
These are paths over which members of the public have a right of
way on foot only. It is usually accepted that photography, sitting
to rest and admiring the view are acceptable activities while on a
public right of way, but not any activity which would prevent other
users having passage. Walkers may usually take dogs and pushchairs
with them.
Bridleways
In addition to the above rights on foot, the public also has a
right of way along bridleways on horseback and on a bicycle.
Cyclists must give way to horse riders and walkers. Suffolk County
Council is under no obligation to make bridleways suitable for use
by cyclists.
Restricted byways
The implementation of
the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (new
window) reclassified all roads used as public
paths (RUPPs) as restricted byways, on which the public has
a right of way on foot, on horseback or leading a horse, or for
vehicles other than mechanically propelled vehicles.
Byways open to all traffic (BOAT)
Byways are rights of way for walkers, horse riders, cyclists and
vehicular traffic, but differ from other vehicular highways in that
usage is mainly by walkers, horse riders and cyclists. A traffic
regulation order can be made by Suffolk County Council to restrict
vehicular access along a byway. This can be considered appropriate
when the surface of a byway makes it unsuitable for vehicular
use.