Public Rights of Way: Where Can I Go, What Can I Do?

Worcestershire’s Public Rights of Way network offers a wonderful way of exploring the countryside.  The county has over 3000 miles of public paths taking you into every corner and parish. They are available for anyone to use, at any time of the day or night, on any day of the year.

There are four kinds of public right of way:

Footpath  Footpaths on which the public has a right on foot.  Wheelchairs and mobility vehicles are also permitted and pushchairs are accepted as “usual accompaniments”.

Bridleway  Bridleways on which, in addition to their rights on a footpath, the public can ride or lead a horse or pedal cycle.

Restricted Byway  Restricted Byways on which, in addition to their rights on a bridleway, the public can drive a horse-drawn carriage or use other non-motorised vehicles

Byways  Byways Open to All Traffic (BOATs) on which, in addition to their rights on a restricted byway, the public may use any kind of wheeled vehicle, including motor cars

Public rights of way are normally signposted from the roadside and the route of the path across the countryside is often indicated by coloured arrows:  

• Footpaths by yellow arrows
• Bridleways by blue arrows
• Restricted Byways by plum arrows
• Byways Open to All Traffic by red arrows

You can use public rights of way by following these arrows but you may also wish to use a map to do to so.  The following Ordnance Survey Explorer Series or Outdoor Leisure Series maps (scale 1:25,000) cover all of Worcestershire and are available from bookshops:

Explorer 190: Malvern Hills and Bredon Hill
Explorer 203: Ludlow, Tenbury Wells and Cleobury Mortimer
Explorer 204: Worcester and Droitwich Spa
Explorer 205: Stratford Upon Avon and Evesham
Explorer 218: Kidderminster and Wyre Forest
Explorer 219: Wolverhampton and Dudley
Explorer 220: Birmingham

Outdoor Leisure 45: The Cotswolds

There are many ideas for suggested walks or rides in our Walking, Cycling and Riding Directory or try one of our easy to follow waymarked walks

Public rights of way are managed by the County Council's Countryside Service.

• Countryside Service
• Explore the Countryside
• Off-site Waymarked Circular Walks
• On-site Waymarked Circular Walks
• Waymarked Walking Trails
• Other Published Walks and Rides
• Countryside Sites
• Access Land
• Public Rights of Way
• Countryside Code
• OS Maps
• Visit Planning Information