{{Short description|Record of locations of public rights of way in England and Wales}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}} {{Use British English|date=November 2017}} A '''definitive map''' is a record of public rights of way in England and Wales. In law it is the definitive record of where a right of way is located. The highway authority (normally the county council, or unitary authority in areas with a one-tier system) has a statutory duty to maintain a definitive map. In national parks, the National Park Authority usually maintains the map. The Inner London boroughs are exempt from the statutory duty, though they have the powers to maintain a map: currently none does so. Details of the definitive map process are set out in the Natural England document ''A guide to definitive maps and changes to public rights of way''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A guide to definitive maps and changes to public rights of way- 2008 Revision |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/414670/definitive-map-guide.pdf |access-date=20 Oct 2025 |website=assets.publishing.service.gov.uk}}</ref>
Each right of way also has a written description referred to as the definitive statement. Generally the definitive map takes legal precedence over the definitive statement.
==Examples of Definitive Maps==
{| class="wikitable sortable" ! Ceremonial County ! District council ! class="unsortable" | Website |- | Bedfordshire | Bedford | [http://bedford-borough.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=874e8da21b074a29b9d2d8fcf6b9c491/ Official website] |- | Bedfordshire | Central Bedfordshire | [http://my.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/?ms=CentralBeds/AllMaps&layers=cbc_boundary_only,row_legal_network&starteasting=512647.49908447&startnorthing=238829.50027466&startzoom=1995/ Official website] |- | Berkshire | West Berkshire | [https://gis1.westberks.gov.uk/ApplicationTemplates/OnlineMap/?vln=PUBLIC%20RIGHTS%20OF%20WAY/ Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729044224/https://gis1.westberks.gov.uk/ApplicationTemplates/OnlineMap/?vln=PUBLIC%20RIGHTS%20OF%20WAY/ |date=29 July 2020 }} |- | Berkshire | Bracknell Forest | [http://maps.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/wml/Map.aspx?MapName=RightsOfWay Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729044300/http://maps.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/wml/Map.aspx?MapName=RightsOfWay |date=29 July 2020 }} |- | Berkshire | Windsor and Maidenhead | [http://mol.rbwm.gov.uk/mol/map/ Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603140258/http://mol.rbwm.gov.uk/mol/map// |date=3 June 2019 }} |- |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.ramblers.org.uk/advice/rights-of-way-law-in-england-and-wales/definitive-maps-explained.aspx] Public Paths and the Definitive Map from the Ramblers Association * [http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/pins/row/consistency_guide.pdf] Definitive Map Orders: Consistency Guidelines from the Planning Inspectorate * [https://old.reddit.com/r/UKhiking/comments/cu9a4d/links_to_definitive_maps_for_the_sake_of_walk/] List of online Definitive Maps for each UK county * [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/414670/definitive-map-guide.pdf] Natural England document ''A guide to definitive maps and changes to public rights of way''
Category:Road transport in the United Kingdom Category:Maps of the United Kingdom Category:Walking in the United Kingdom Category:Footpaths in the United Kingdom
{{law-term-stub}}