Bridle path
Encyclopedia
A bridle path is a thoroughfare
originally made for horse
s, but which these days serves a wide range of interests, including hikers, walkers and cyclists
as well as equestrians. The laws relating to permissions vary from country to country. Bridle paths were transport routes where the country was so steep that the route was impassable by wheeled traffic. In industrialized countries, bridle paths are now primarily used for recreation. However, they are still important transportation routes in some areas. For example, they are the main method of traveling to mountain villages in Lesotho
.
and Wales
a public bridleway is a legally protected right of way over privately owned land, over which the public has the right to travel on horseback or leading a horse, with or without a right to drive animals of any description along the way. The public also has the right to travel on foot on public bridleways. The public is permitted to ride bicycles on public bridleways, but that right is not absolute because the law provides that it "shall not create any obligation to facilitate the use of the bridleway by cyclists".
Public bridleways are shown as long green dashes on Ordnance Survey
1:25,000 maps, or long pink dashes on 1:50,000 maps. In addition, permissive bridleways are shown as dashed orange lines on the 1:25,000 maps where there is no statutory right of way but where the landowner permits use, for the time being, as a bridleway.
A public bridleway is sometimes waymarked using a blue arrow on a metal or plastic disc or by blue paint dots on posts and trees.
In Scotland
there is no legal distinction between footpaths and bridleways, though it is generally accepted that horseriders (and cyclists) may follow rights of way
with suitable surfaces.
Thoroughfare
A thoroughfare is a place of transportation intended to connect one location to another. Highways, roads, and trails are examples of thoroughfares used by a variety of general traffic. On land a thoroughfare may refer to anything from a rough trail to multi-lane highway with grade separated...
originally made for horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
s, but which these days serves a wide range of interests, including hikers, walkers and cyclists
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
as well as equestrians. The laws relating to permissions vary from country to country. Bridle paths were transport routes where the country was so steep that the route was impassable by wheeled traffic. In industrialized countries, bridle paths are now primarily used for recreation. However, they are still important transportation routes in some areas. For example, they are the main method of traveling to mountain villages in Lesotho
Lesotho
Lesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name...
.
Bridleways in the United Kingdom
In EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
a public bridleway is a legally protected right of way over privately owned land, over which the public has the right to travel on horseback or leading a horse, with or without a right to drive animals of any description along the way. The public also has the right to travel on foot on public bridleways. The public is permitted to ride bicycles on public bridleways, but that right is not absolute because the law provides that it "shall not create any obligation to facilitate the use of the bridleway by cyclists".
Public bridleways are shown as long green dashes on Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey , an executive agency and non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom, is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps of Great Britain , and one of the world's largest producers of maps.The name reflects its creation together with...
1:25,000 maps, or long pink dashes on 1:50,000 maps. In addition, permissive bridleways are shown as dashed orange lines on the 1:25,000 maps where there is no statutory right of way but where the landowner permits use, for the time being, as a bridleway.
A public bridleway is sometimes waymarked using a blue arrow on a metal or plastic disc or by blue paint dots on posts and trees.
In Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
there is no legal distinction between footpaths and bridleways, though it is generally accepted that horseriders (and cyclists) may follow rights of way
Rights of way in Scotland
In Scotland a right of way is defined as any defined route over which the public has been able to pass unhindered for at least 20 years. The route must link two "public places", such as villages, churches or roads. Unlike in England and Wales there is no obligation on Scottish local authorities to...
with suitable surfaces.
See also
- Equestrian use of roadwaysEquestrian use of roadwaysEquestrian use of roadways was routine historically, and continues to be routine in many parts of the world today. It is subject to a wide variety of regulatory, policy, management, and technical issues.-Direction of travel:...
- ParkwayParkwayThe term parkway has several distinct principal meanings and numerous synonyms around the world, for either a type of landscaped area or a type of road.Type of landscaped area:...
- 2004 National Federation of Bridleway Associations article on bridleway usage by motorists