Help Shape the Future of the Rights of Way Network

Public rights of way are the network of footpaths, bridleways, restricted byways and byways that link towns, villages, green spaces and countryside across Dorset. Dorset Council wants to hear from residents about how those routes could be managed over the next decade.

A consultation is currently open (closes 12 October) on the draft Dorset Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) 2026 to 2036. The plan sets out how Dorset's network of public rights of way could become more accessible, better connected - something the Parish Council is aiming for with the opening of the Trailway to Maiden Newton - and easier for people to use for recreation, active travel and everyday journeys. The draft plan includes ambitions to improve access for people of all abilities, create safer connections between schools and communities, expand traffic-free routes for walking, cycling and horse riding, and make it easier for people to discover and navigate routes through improved signage and digital tools.

Dorset Council is responsible for maintaining and protecting more than 2,855 miles of routes across the county and as the Local Highway Authority, has a statutory duty under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to produce a Rights of Way Improvement Plan. This draft plan fulfils that duty while setting a broader vision for how Dorset's public rights of way network can support communities, health and wellbeing, local businesses, sustainable travel and access to nature over the next 10 years.

The consultation is open to everyone. Whether you walk, cycle, ride, use the network for everyday journeys, or don't currently use it at all, Dorset Council want to understand your experiences and views. Feedback from residents and visitors will help shape the final plan before it is adopted later this year.

To read the draft plan and to submit a response visit Dorset Counil's consulation portal USING THIS LINK.