North York Moors National Park
 

Authority Services

Authority's responsibilities

 

The Authority is responsible for:

  • Ensuring that rights of way can be used by the public and administering the law relating to them.
  • Continuously reviewing and updating the Definitive Map of Public Rights of Way. This is the official record of footpaths, bridleways and byways and may be seen at the Helmsley office. Copies can be supplied to Parish Councils.
  • Signposting footpaths, bridleways and byways open to all traffic where they leave surfaced roads.
  • Controlling natural vegetation on the surface of rights of way, however, this is a huge task and users may encounter overgrowth and poor ground conditions at certain times of year.
  • Maintaining bridges over natural water courses.
  • Assisting farmers or landowners by at least a quarter of the cost of maintaining approved stiles and bridlegates. In practice, up to 100% of work is frequently funded or undertaken by the Authority, working on the owner's behalf.

The Definitive Map of Public Rights of Way, which is the official record of footpaths, bridleways and byways open to all traffic, was first compiled from local knowledge, often provided by Parish Councils. Ordnance Survey maps that show Public Rights of Way take the information from the Definitive Map but inaccuracies do occur from printing limitations. In addition, changes of route or status frequently occur to Rights of Way so Ordnance Survey maps may be out of date as soon as it is printed. The only up to date source of information is the Definitive Map so you may wish to periodically update your Ordnance Survey map from the Definitive Map. Staff at Helmsley will be able to show you all changes to the Map since your Ordnance Survey map was published. Current changes to rights of way are on this website at Rights of Way Notices. Most Parish Councils have a copy of their local network of paths which is usually kept by the Parish Clerk but this will be out of date if changes have occurred.