Berkshire Bridleways

Janice Bridger, who is BHS Access & Rights of Way volunteer for Berkshire, suggested I put some bridleways stuff on the site. It's not 100% BCRC but hacking out is what a lot of us spend many hours doing. And cursing problems with unsuitable bridleways or road layouts is another of our regular if not so favorite past times

So here is your chance to have your say and do your bit.
Send me things to put on the site - Bridleway problems or info about really nice places to go.
And send Janice things which she can action with the relevant authorities.
Janice Bridger, email:

• 'A guide to definitive maps and changes to rights of way'. Published by the Countryside Agency May 2003. Free from phone 01242 521381 or see www.countryside.gov.uk. Looks readable & useful for anyone interested in changing the status a right of way or just learning a bit more about ROWs.
• 'On the right track' by John Sudgen, a BHS/Countryside Agency book, available from the BHS bookshop (www.bhs.org.uk) £15.00. 352 pages of readable, comprehensive coverage by an author who has been a BHS Regional Bridleways Officer, a Rambler and a transport engineer by profession. Topics include: official records of public paths, how to research rights of way, OS & other maps, adding paths to the definitive map, traffic regulation orders, methods to upgrade paths etc etc. I think it covers everything one might need to know for rights of way!
• 'Rights of way' by Riddall & Trevelyan. A book published by the Open Spaces Society & the Ramblers' Association. This is the rights of way bible with over 700 pages. It covers much the same general info as 'On the Right Track' but a lot of Acts & Statutes are included eg. what constitutes an offence to a public right of way.
• Rural Routes & Networks, a booklet published by the Countryside Agency & the Institute of Civil Engineers (www.ice.org.uk). A breath of fresh air & certainly worth reading in that it recognizes how motorised transport has taken over even our country lanes to the detriment of vulnerable road users such as horse-riders, cyclists & walkers. Horse-riders get a good mention - the BHS had input. Once again, improvements are not going to happen just like that. Page 27 gives a list of how local user groups can put pressure on. Thanks to Gill Hall at Cold Ash for finding this one. Copies can be bought from the Institute of Civil Engineers (£10! - see web site). A pdf copy is available via Heather.Davies@countryside.gov.uk or from Janice Bridger but it takes ages to download because of all the photos. The document is not on a web site at present.
• 'How old is that route'. A 6 page briefing note produced by the Institute of Civil Engineers on the history of and origins of footpaths, lanes & roads. Can be downloaded from www.ice.org.uk - look for briefing sheets, Community, urban & rural, History of routes.
• History of Woodsprings Bridleway Association. There is some very, very useful information, tips and encouragement for those of us trying to improve the riding network in West Berks. - eg. see page 8 for bridleway improvements.
• CPRE Quiet Lanes initiative. Under the Transport Act 2000, local authorities, eg West Berks Council, are able to designate certain roads as Quiet Lanes. These are lanes where special attention is paid to encourage walking, cycling and horse-riding, safe from speeding traffic. Traffic can still use the routes but slowly! It appears that local authorities have to be pressurized by user groups into taking this initiative on board and designating certain roads as quiet roads in their Local Transport Plans. West Berks Local Transport Plan is due for revision around 2005. Recreational horse-riders hardly got a mention in the last one (racehorses did get coverage). Some lanes through Curridge, Oare & Beedon could be candidates for quiet lanes as part of the Chieveley Community Circuit which will use the 2 new bridleway bridges at Junction 13. Information can be obtained from www.cpre.org.uk. Think about what lanes you use, where they go and whether they could form part of a safe walking/riding/cycling route. We can make a list and put them to West Berks Council.
• Discovering Lost Ways is a Countryside Agency's initiative following on from the Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000. This applies to routes not only which might be absent from the definitive map (and hence OS maps) but routes on which higher rights may exist, for example footpaths which should be bridleways. Ann Barrett at Sulhamstead has already identified a route which is known as the Drovers Rd but which is only classified as a footpath although horse-riders have used it for years. Problems are now occurring which may mean that user evidence needs to be collected to preserve the route as a riding route. Further info from Ann Barrett (michaelpankhurst@aol.com or 01189 302333). Some of you may have read in Horse & Hound some time ago, that the Trail Riders Fellowship (motorbike riders) have submitted claims to Buckinghamshire County Council to change about 20 bridleways (which are for walkers, horse-riders & cyclists only) into byways (which are open to open to all vehicular traffic). There are another ~ 100 bridleways that they are collecting evidence for. Buckinghamshire horse-riders may be sharing their bridleways with motorbikes in the future, if the claims are successful.
• The North Wessex Downs AONB management plan See www.northwessexdowns.org.uk. There is a lot of info here. The racehorse industry and walking are mentioned but there does not seem to be much about the needs of the recreational rider.
• Defra's new Gateway to equine issues in Government (November 2003). See www.defra.gov.uk/rural/horses It appears that Defra has recognized that there are a lot of recreational horses about! It aims to develop long-term strategy for the horse industry. This looks to be a big step in the right direction. There is a page on rights of way issues, Local Access Forums, Rights of Way Improvement plans etc. So, all we have to do is make sure that horse-riders' needs are recognized locally by working with West Berks Council.
• Defra Consulation paper on the use of mechanically propelled vehicles on Rights of Way (December 2003) See www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/mpvehicles/index.htm Responses by 19 March 2004
• BHS response to the Defra Consultation paper on the use of mechanically propelled vehicles on Rights of Way. See www.bhs.org.uk 'What's new' 17 December 2003. Interesting.................???
• 'At Risk' register of vulnerable green lanes'. In the October 2003 issue of South East Rambler, The Ramblers Association reports that it is compiling this register and is asking for examples of paths being damaged by recreational off-road vehicles with photos if possible. If you do not agree with the use of green lanes by vehicles, send any info you have to Donna O'Brian at Ramblers' Central Office 2nd Floor Camelford House 87-90 Albert Embankment London SE1 7Tw or email donnao@london.ramblers.org.uk. Also, it is worth contacting your MP as there are moves taking place in Parliament on the issue of vehicular damage to rights of way.