Private land owners

The law on public rights of way and access to the countryside is ever-changing, and the pace of that change getting ever faster. Keeping up with these changes is our specialism, enabling us to offer you the best advice on how to manage access to your land — whether it be a path through your garden or open access on a country estate.

Many of the changes offer advantages to land owners as well some increases in public access. For example, a provision in the Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000 will soon make it much easier for a land owner to apply to divert paths.

The main areas of work we carry out for land owners relate to investigating claims made for paths across their land ('Definitive Map Modification Orders') and seeking changes to the position of public paths to facilitate better use of land, development etc.

A more complete list of the services we offer is shown below (but if what you want isn't there, don't hesitate to contact us to discuss your particular requirements):

• Public path diversions and extinguishments
• Path creation order/agreement advice
• Statutory declarations to prevent unintended dedication of a right of way
• Footpath claim investigation
• Definitive Map Modification Order advice and advocacy
• Cross-compliance, health & safety and Disability Discrimination Act compliance surveys