The government stated that while it maps op, moorland, heathland, downland, and commons.
However, proponents of “right to roam” contend that by fusing local authority public rights of way maps with Natural England, they are unaware of their rights,” he continued.
A legal right to wander exists in areas that were surveyed and declared as “open country” as part of the Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act 2000. These areas include mountains, moorland, heathland, downland, and commons.
However, proponents of “right to roam” contend that by fusing local authority public rights of way maps with Natural England’s CRoW Act mapping, they have discovered hundreds of dispersed open-country places that lack footpaths or are not adjacent to highways.
Researchers Lewis Winks and his team showcased a variety of settings, from Sussex downline to Cumbrian moorland. Lewis called it “ridiculous” that individuals frequently had to trespass in order to access areas where they were legally allowed to walk.
“One obvious reason why our existing English system of access rights is flawed is the ridiculousness of access islands. In the country, people are frequently unaware of their rights,” he continued.
However, the Country Land and Business Association, which advocates for rural landowners, stated that no walker should be required to breach the law because there is ample accessible open space.