The Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) Act 2000 gave people new rights to access on foot to areas of open country and registered common land. The access rights, sometimes referred to as ‘the right to roam’ were introduced by the Government on a regional basis, and came into force in the Leeds area on 31st October 2005.
What sort of land do the new rights apply to?
Now that the access rights are in place, you will be able to walk on areas of mountain, moor, heath, down and common land, subject to some common sense restrictions. The exact locations of areas of access land can be found on the Countryside Access website following the link at the bottom of this page. The rights only apply to these particular areas.
What will I be able to do on Access and Common Land?
The right of access applies to open air recreation on foot only, and includes walking, bird watching, picnicking, running and climbing. It includes the right to walk dogs, but between 1st March and 31st July, or at any time in the vicinity of livestock, the right requires dogs to be on a fixed lead of no more than 2 metres.
What won’t I be able to do on Open Access Land?
The CROW rights do not extend to riding a horse or pedal cycle (unless on a bridleway); driving a vehicle; taking part in organised games or commercial activities; hunting, fishing or collecting anything from the area, including rocks and plants; camping or lighting fires. It is also possible for local restrictions to be imposed on the new rights where necessary e.g. to protect nesting birds or prevent fires in times of drought - these are also shown on the Ordnance Survey maps on the Countryside Access website.
Does the 'right to roam' apply everywhere?
No – other than on mapped and signposted ‘Access’ or ‘Common Land’ you must stick to the line of public rights of way e.g. footpaths and bridleways. Even land that is marked as access land on a map may not be open to the public - private gardens, woodland and cultivated farmland (including grazing land) are not included, and there is no general right to roam.
How can I find where the new Access Land exists?
The Countryside Agency have mapped all of the Access Land and Common Land across the whole of England, and this information can be found on their website, following the link on this page.
Access land in Leeds includes Hawksworth Moor, land adjacent to Reva Reservoir, parts of the Otley Chevin, Townclose Hills in Kippax and the Buckstone Fields in the Meanwood Valley.
The Conclusive Maps of Open Access for the Leeds Area are available to view at the Public Rights of Way Office at Red Hall Estate, LS17 8NB. If you would like to see these maps, please telephone (0113) 395 7400 and ask to arrange an appointment with a member of our Public Rights of Way team. Alternatively, the access land is shown on the latest editions of the Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps (Nos. 289 Leeds, 288 Bradford & Huddersfield and 297 Lower Wharfedale).
Contact us
Please note that the Parks and Countryside's Head Office main reception telephone number 0113 395 7400 is staffed from 8.00am - 4.30pm Monday to Thursday and 8.00am - 4.00pm on a Friday. Outside of these hours you can leave a message on the answerphone.