Rights of Way Improvement Plan

The Rights of Way Improvement Plan (RoWIP) will guide Cornwall Council’s management of Public Rights of Way over the next ten years. It's aim is to improve rights of way for the benefit of the wide range of needs of the public that use them. fulfils a statutory requirement under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000).

So that we understand the needs of users, preparation of the RoWIP will involve a public survey and consultation with stakeholders. The updated plan will outline how we prioritise decisions to deliver the greatest benefit to Cornwall’s communities. It will also consider the context of the different types of land and sites that Public Rights of Way cross, as well as practical challenges such as climate change and financial implications.

What Are Public Rights of Way?

Cornwall’s Public Rights of Way network includes four legally defined types of paths:

• Footpaths – for walking, mobility scooters, and powered wheelchairs
• Bridleways – for walking, horse riding, cycling, mobility scooters, and powered wheelchairs
• Restricted Byways – for walking, horse riding, cycling, mobility scooters, powered wheelchairs, and horse-drawn carriages
• Byways Open to All Traffic (BOATs) – for all of the above, including motor vehicles

In total, Cornwall has 11,581 paths, including the longest section of the South West Coast Path National Trail:

Cornwall also has a number of other forms of countryside access which are integral to the way in which people use and interact with Public Rights of Way, including:

Multi-use trails, such as the Camel Trail, Coast to Coast, Mineral Tramways, Clay Trails, and Saints Trail

Over 100 countryside and heritage sites managed by Cornwall Council, including four Country Parks:

• Tehidy Woods
• Seaton Valley
• Kit Hill
• Mount Edgcumbe Estate

Other access sites are managed by partners such as the National Trust, Cornwall Heritage Trust, and private landowners.

Why Now?

Since the last Countryside Access Strategy (2007), Cornwall has seen significant changes:

• A growing, and ageing, population (The Cornwall We Know insight report)
• Increased public interest in outdoor recreation, especially post-Covid (Cornwall and IoS joint Health and Well-being Strategy)
• Pressures from climate change (Cornwall Climate Change Risk Assessment)
• Targets for carbon neutrality (Carbon Neutral Action Plan) and nature recovery (Local Nature Recovery Strategy)
• Encouraging active travel and outdoor access (Cornwall Active Travel Plans)
• Formation of the unitary authority, Cornwall Council.

The refreshed RoWIP will reflect long-term ambitions for Cornwall outlined in our Environment Growth Strategy, the Local Transport Plan, and the Cornwall Local Plan, as well as deliver on the Defra Guidance for preparing and publishing Rights of Way Improvement Plans.

For more information about our Public Rights of Way, please see the 'Important links' section on this page.

Please complete the survey below by 28 September 2025