Public Rights of Way

Around 1100 kilometres of rights of way provide the focus for accessing the special area of Northumberland National Park. Furthermore, we have negotiated around 50 kilometres of permissive access, and the vast majority of open moorland, as well as Forestry Commission woodland is now Open Access land and can be explored on foot.

The responsibility for rights of way within the county of Northumberland lies with the Highway Authority Northumberland County Council. They have a wide range of statutory duties to protect and maintain rights of way, and additional discretionary powers to support rights of way management functions.

The Highway Authority is responsible for the Definitive Map, which provides a legal record of public rights of way and public rights known to exist at any point in time. Within the National Park, there are 704 kilometres of public footpath, 448 kilometres of public bridleway, and 33 kilometres of byway open to all traffic.

Northumberland National Park Authority has delegated responsibility from the Highway Authority in terms of the physical maintenance and improvement of the public rights of way network.

The majority of this work is carried out by our Ranger Team who are responsible for surveying paths, signing routes, helping landowners to keep gates and stiles in good condition, and help to resolve conflicts between path users and those who live and work in the National Park.

Where you can go

Public Rights of Way, excluding the road network, fall into 3 categories:

Footpaths - use on foot only, with no legal right for horse riders and cyclists.

Bridleways - use on foot, horse or pedal cycle, but not for those in a horse & cart, motor vehicle or motor cycle.

Byway - available for any mode of transport. However their main use is as either a footpath or bridleway, and they are often unsurfaced.

In addition to these paths, access is also available in a few other situations:

• Permissive Paths: where a landowner allows the public access over private property with permission
• Open Access Land: for information relating to this new right of access please visit our Open Access section
• National Trails: The Pennine Way and Hadrian’s Wall Path both run through the National Park, detailed information of which can be found on the National Trail website.
• Promoted routes: There are a number of other long distance routes that run through the National Park such as St Cuthbert’s Way, St Oswald’s Way, Hadrian’s Cycleway and the Pennine Cycleway. We also promote a number of shorter leisure and circular routes often based around villages.
• Otterburn Training Area; There are two zones within the Otterburn Range military training area which are used for different types of training.
  • Controlled Access: you must keep to the roads or way-marked paths. Access is closed when red flags are flying as firing with live ammunition may be taking place.
  • Open Access: you may see soldiers but they will not be using live ammunition. You are welcome to explore but please avoid troops in training.
• Please follow any signs and do not enter any road by which a red flag is flying. If you are in any doubt about where you can go please phone 01830 520569.

All these differing forms of access are individually identified on the Ordnance Survey Explorer Series maps. There are 3 maps that cover the area of the National Park and are available through our on-line shop

• Explorer OL 16 - The Cheviot Hills
• Explorer OL 42 - Kielder Water and Forest
• Explorer OL 43 - Hadrian’s Wall

For further information on rights of way and access please consult the Countryside Access website.