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Public Rights of Way (PROW)

Public Rights of Way Interactive Map

Design your own walk

Want to make your own custom walks to share with friends? The Public Right of Way Map shows the location of existing foothpaths, bridleways and byways across the East Riding of Yorkshire. Use the draw tools to plan your own journeys!

(The information on the map gives the approximate location of the Public Right of Way network, and may only be used for general guidance. No guarantee is given to its accuracy.)

View map

Problem with a Public Right of Way? Have you found damage to a path or signage on a Public Right of Way? Please report it online to East Riding of Yorkshire Council on eastriding.gov.uk

Open access spaces

Access land in England falls into two categories, open country (mountain, moor, heath and down) and registered common land, and there is a right to outdoor recreation on foot on this land. In the East Riding, the majority of access land is in the unimproved grassland of the Wolds dry chalk valleys which are Chalk downland. There is a small area of heath near South Cliffe and the three commons around Beverley (Westwood, Swinemoor and Figham) that are also accessible. Some open country is not publicly accessible as they do not have a connection to a public right of way or highway.

Activities on access land

You are allowed to wander anywhere within access land for activities including running, dog walking, climbing, birdwatching and having a picnic however you are required to take your rubbish home with you. Dogs must be on a short lead between 1 March and 31 July or at all times when livestock are present.

Activities you cannot do are:

Cycling or horse riding
Water sports, including swimming or taking a boat onto a river, lake or reservoir
Driving a motorised vehicle
Lighting fires or camping
Shooting, foraging or picking flowers
Using a metal detector
Taking part in organised games or commercial activities
Interfering with the activities of farmers or other landowners

What is Open Access?

This historic new right of open access started in the East Riding in 2005.

Open access means that you can walk through land mapped by Natural England as 'access land' without having to stick to formal paths. Most of the land that is available lies in the wolds, as dry chalk valleys snake their way through the landscape.

Most of the land in the East Riding is not 'access land' and you should stick to existing public rights of way, unless the open country symbol is clearly evident.

We have a useful guide for those who wish to explore these beautiful places and this answers frequently asked questions about closures and restrictions, safety for walkers, dogs and other rules when using this new right.

More information on open access can be found on Natural England.

What is Registered Common Land?

Registered common land (RCL) is mostly privately owned but others have rights to use the land. For example to graze livestock and these people are called 'commoners'. Following the passing of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 the public can walk freely across all land registered. Additional rights to ride horses also exist on urban commons.

You may take a dog on RCL unless there is a formal closure or restriction. Please note that between the 1 March and 31 July you should keep your dog on a short lead to protect ground nesting birds.

The three largest areas are around Beverley but many other smaller areas exist that you can enjoy. The most important piece of registered common land is Beverley Westwood and this is enjoyed by thousands of visitors each year.

To view the register please contact us on (01482) 393170 to make an appointment.