More than 100 miles of public footpaths could be lost in Leeds

Volunteers from Ramblers have searched maps covering England and Wales and found more than 49,000 miles of unrecorded rights of way – with 150 of them in Leeds. The charity says it is important not to lose access to the paths, which were missed off the record of rights of way when local authorities drew it up in the 1950s and 1960s. Unless they are registered before January 1 2026, they will not be protected as public rights of way.

Ramblers has set up its Don’t Lose Your Way project to identify and record the paths that are most useful to people who live near them – for example, those which help connect communities, or which link circular routes.

Programme manager Jack Cornish said: “We have a fantastic rights of way network in England and Wales, but we know that in some places it doesn’t make complete sense – paths that stop in the middle of nowhere or whole communities with few legally recorded paths.

“Improving and expanding our network will give more opportunities for people to access. These are rights of way that have been built up over hundreds of years, an important part of our collective heritage, and once they are lost, they are lost forever.”

If a path is on the government’s definitive map, it is covered by legal protection that means landowners and local authorities are responsible for ensuring that paths are maintained, clear of obstruction and signposted. The charity said that protecting and improving the current network was key for people to enjoy the outdoors – an aspect which became even more important during the coronavirus pandemic.