Freedom to roam.

The new Countryside and Rights of Way Act, which became law on 1^st December 2000, will grant access in England and Wales to mountains, moors, heath and downland as well as commons.

The right of access will not extend to cultivated land.

Landowners can restrict public access, but only for a limited number of days every year, or can apply for conditions such as dogs on leads at certain times of the year.

Further restrictions can be applied to environmentally-sensitive landscapes or where there is a risk of fire or to allow a landowner to carry out land management work. So before you plan to go on to any access land, you should check that there are no restrictions in force by visiting the Countryside Agency web-site.

The situation in autumn 2004 is that the map was published and access established in the South-east and Lower north-west regions on 19^th September.

Legal right of access in Wiltshire began on 14 December 2004 and a celebratory walk was held on that day in Pewsey Vale. Participants met at 10 am for a 10.30 start at the car park on the Alton Priors to Lockeridge road under Knapp Hill. The walk was about 3 miles long, we visited some of the new access land and we enjoyed some good downland views despite the mist. After the walk all adjourned to the "Who'd A' Thought It " pub at Lockeridge. Pictures of this walk .

A number of additional commemorative walks took place in January 2005. (See individual walks programmes for details.)

More Information

History of Freedom to roam