Generally, the higher the levels of access likely to be experienced or the more hazardous the operation, the more that information should be provided to the public and the greater the need to provide alternative routes. In remoter or less frequented areas, these requirements become less. This obligation does not change with the new right of access. In undertaking risk assessments, you will need to identify what risks might arise by considering the nature of public access and how the operation might affect it. Requirements such as these can often be best met by planning ahead before you start a management operation.
Paths are particularly important to making the right of access work successfully on the ground.
Most people prefer to use paths rather than go across fields or along roads and, in doing so, they reduce potential impacts and disruption to management operations. An obstruction is anything which prevents or hinders a member of the public from exercising the right of access responsibly. Local authorities will be able to remove obstructions and to recover costs from the land manager responsible for the obstruction. Most land managers do not obstruct or restrict access and the use of this new power will hinge on whether or not the obstruction is unreasonable. Modify a management operation if it is reasonable and practicable to do so 4.