Certain types of land are not subject to the new access rights even if they qualify as open country or registered common land. This includes buildings and livestock pens; land ploughed or drilled during the previous 12 months to grow crops or trees; quarries and other active mineral workings; land used as a golf course or race course and land where military byelaws apply.
What are people able to do on Access land?
There is a right of access on foot for open air recreation - this includes walking, bird watching, picnicking, running and climbing. This includes the right to walk dogs on access land - but between 1st March and 31st July, or at any time in the vicinity of livestock, the right requires dogs to be on a fixed lead of no more than two metres. National restrictions apply to the new access rights at all times. For example the CROW right does not include any rights to: ride a horse or bicycle, or drive a vehicle; take part in organised games or commercial activities; bathe in non-tidal water, or use boats there; hunt, fish or collect anything from the area including rocks or plants; camp or light fires. It is also possible for local restrictions to be imposed on the new rights where necessary.
The national restrictions and local restriction powers only apply to CROW access rights. They do not affect what people already do: by local tradition or tolerance; with express permission; on public rights of way such as footpaths and bridleways; or under any other existing rights or arrangements that apply locally. Your ‘access authority’ (the national park or highway authority) has special powers to help you manage the new access rights. Our helpline has full details of these authorities if you are unsure about the one that applies for your area.
Access Management Grant Scheme
The Access Management Grant Scheme is designed primarily to support access authorities in making use of the powers they have been given to manage the implementation of the new right of Open Access at local level. In exceptional circumstances land managers may be eligible to receive grant aid direct from Natural England. The following criteria will be used by Natural England in deciding whether or not to offer a grant to land managers.
The access authority has decided not to enter the Scheme
The land manager is responsible for managing substantial areas of new access land that meets the Scheme priorities
Whether it will be economical to offer a grant. This will include consideration to the extent of the grant application and the administrative cost
The local context - will the inclusion of the area in question be valuable
