Forest of Bowland rights of way

stubs
stubs Posts: 5,001
edited April 2009 in Routes
I have been told that the Forest of Bowland now has a right to roam for walkers like they have in Scotland but I cant find any info on the rights of bikers.

Any one know if we have the right to go on any track, path or trail or are we still stuck to the few bridleways. There are quite a few jeep tracks which go to shooting areas can these be legally used.
Fig rolls: proof that god loves cyclists and that she wants us to do another lap

Comments

  • topsey_turvey
    topsey_turvey Posts: 420
    AFAIK Right to Roam applies only to walkers. Riders are stuck to bridleways. Shooting tracks are probably private roads, so you cannot use them (legally).
    Frank Yates
  • stumpyjon
    stumpyjon Posts: 4,069
    Yep cyclists were completely bypassed by the right to roam legislation, absolute waste of an opportunity (expecially when the governement is supposed to be encouraging everybody to get out and exercise).
    It's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.

    I've bought a new bike....ouch - result
    Can I buy a new bike?...No - no result
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    In that particular area there is actually very little for MTB'ers and no 'right to roam.'. Shame because it' beautiful; it's great for Roadies. There is a loop around Dunsop Bridge which I did once - pretty had going but well worth it. The Dunsop Dangle as it's sometimes known was covered in MBR I believe. Starts form the road heading from the village up the the trough - turn right and follow your nose. You'll need a compass and OS map. I've got no other record of the route as someone else led that ride.
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • Mancunianfightingcat
    Mancunianfightingcat Posts: 2,054
    The route that was in MBR is much better the other way round (as usual with MBR routes!!). There's not much else to go at unfortunately (if you want to stay legal that is!)
    Ants
    Orange Blood - Orange 5SE - Marin Rocky Ridge
  • dave_hill
    dave_hill Posts: 3,877
    stubs wrote:
    I have been told that the Forest of Bowland now has a right to roam for walkers like they have in Scotland but I cant find any info on the rights of bikers.

    Any one know if we have the right to go on any track, path or trail or are we still stuck to the few bridleways. There are quite a few jeep tracks which go to shooting areas can these be legally used.

    Right to Roam only applies to pedestrians, for everyone else it's business as usual.

    Jeep tracks can be used as long as they are appropriate public rights of way - i.e. public and permissive bridleways, byways open to all traffic (BOATs) and Roads Used as Public Paths (RUPPs). All marked accordingly on your friendly local OS map.

    A lot of the land in Bowland is owned by the Duke of Westminster who is a bugger when it comes to access. But even he can't do anything about public rights of way.

    If you want a decent route in the Bowland area, drop me a PM with your e-mail addy and I'll send you a route map.
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  • stubs
    stubs Posts: 5,001
    Well we did dave_hills route it was good fun but quite a bit of it turned into a bog hopping bike carrying session definitely a 2 months of drought needed first route. Never mind I believe peaty water is good for the skin :) so my feet will be as soft as a babies bum now
    Fig rolls: proof that god loves cyclists and that she wants us to do another lap
  • Higs
    Higs Posts: 105
    dave_hill wrote:
    A lot of the land in Bowland is owned by the Duke of Westminster who is a bugger when it comes to access.

    You're not wrong there.
    Higs

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