Public rights of way

Public rights of way are paths and tracks which all members of the public have a right of passage. We have and maintain over 1280 kilometres of rights of way in the borough.

There are four different categories of public rights of way:

• Public footpaths - where the public has a right of way on foot
• Public bridleways- where the public has a right of way on foot, on horseback, leading a horse and on a bicycle
• Restricted byway- where the public has a right of way on foot, on horseback, leading a horse, by bicycle and by horse drawn vehicle
• Byway Open to All Traffic (BOAT) - where the public has a right of way on foot on horseback, leading a horse, on a bicycle, in a motorised vehicle or non-motorised vehicle and driving animals

There are differences in the standards of path that you may come across when using a public right of way. Walkers and riders should be aware of this, but this adds to the enjoyment of visiting the beautiful countryside across Cheshire West.

Not all public rights of way are necessarily suitable for all users, all year round. Some paths may be narrow, steep or boggy to use due to the nature of the terrain, or how they came into being. All users of public rights of way have a responsibility to ensure their own well-being and to take due care.

If you feel that there is public safety concern on a public right of way that needs our attention, please report it to us.

You can check our interactive map first to confirm that the issue in on a public right of way: