Help Preserve Burnley's Bridleways, Join Us Today!

Under Part II of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, historical footpaths and bridleways, which came into existence before 1949 but which have not been recorded on the definitive map and statement by 1 January 2026, may be extinguished. Many of these unrecorded historical paths are still in use and can be recorded now on the basis of 20 years’ use before it is too late.

In 2026 any routes that you use will be lost if they are not claimed. Not enough is happening, this needs all of us to help.

Cosi Towneley from Burnley Bridleways has been working hard to open new local routes such as the Cliviger 8 and a route from Gorple Road to Rowley Park.

Cosi has also been working on draining Scholey Head Lane which has made accessing parts of the Mary Towneley Loop difficult for people in that area.

Open Spaces are working on recording routes but their emphasis is on footpaths and not bridleways. See https://www.oss.org.uk/what-we-do/rights-of-way/claiming-a-public-footpath/

The BHS are campaigning to raise awareness and are asking people to record routes. You can download their toolkit which will help you. See http://www.bhs.org.uk/access-and-bridleways/2026

The 1910 Finance Act resulted in the first definitive map of Britain of all property and land which was used to raise money from taxes. Unfortunately, many of the routes used by walkers and horses alike were designated as footpaths and horse riders lost the right to use them.

We need you to ride and record your routes! See http://www.bhs.org.uk/access-and-bridleways/2026 for advice on how to do this.