CPAC4: Footpath access
Source: gov.uk (2025-09-10)

What you must do to get paid for this CSHT action and advice on how to do it.

This action is part of Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT). You must read the CSHT guidance (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-csht) before you apply.

Duration

5 years

How much you’ll be paid

£77 per 100 metres (m) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is to provide and maintain new permissive footpaths to the public. You’ll provide this access free of charge to the public.

The purpose is to deliver benefits for public health and wellbeing.

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on most permanent land types. You’ll need to agree what land can be included with your Natural England adviser or Forestry Commission woodland officer.

You cannot do this action on land that has existing and equivalent access rights.

Eligible land

All land use codes are eligible for this action.

Available area you can enter into this action

Total or part of the available area in the land parcel.

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

Your Natural England adviser or Forestry Commission woodland officer will assess your land. They’ll work with you to adapt and agree the activities you must do to achieve this action’s aim. All mandatory activities will be set out in your agreement document.

To get paid for this action, you must:
- provide and maintain footpaths which are wide enough for 2 people to walk side by side on a safe and even surface
- create and install signs and maps at entrance points, and waymarks along routes
- keep animals known to pose a risk to the public away from permissive access routes
- carry out the necessary number of site inspections to make sure woodland access complies with tree safety – read the Countryside Code advice for land managers on creating a safe environment (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code/the-countryside-code-advice-for-land-managers#create-a-safe-environment)
- inspect other non-woodland access routes regularly to ensure there are no safety issues and take remedial action where necessary
- maintain sward height to allow easy walking
- link footpaths with other public access, such as Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) open access land, or public rights of way
You must not:
- close access routes for more than 10 days a year
- close access routes on a public holiday
- let any activities on land within your control interfere with permissive access
- block existing access routes across the holding
When to do it

You must do this action each year of its duration.

You should complete all preparatory work and gain the necessary permissions at the start of your agreement unless stated otherwise. You should install any infrastructure within the first year of your agreement.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you have done to complete this action. If it’s not clear that you have done this action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve its aim, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) may ask for this evidence.

You must supply the evidence if they ask for it, including:
- field operations at a parcel level
- associated invoices
- photographs relevant to the action
Consents, permissions and licensing requirements

To apply for this action, you may need:
- Scheduled Monument Consent (https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/planning/consents/smc/) from Historic England for any work on scheduled monuments
- consent from Natural England for any activity on land designated as a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/protected-areas-sites-of-special-scientific-interest#get-consent-to-carry-out-operations-on-your-land)
You may also need to get:
- advice from your Natural England adviser or Forestry Commission woodland officer if you have other archaeological or historic features on your agreement land
- a wildlife licence (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wildlife-licences) from Natural England if your activities affect a protected species or their habitat
All archaeological and historic features (including scheduled monuments) are identified in your Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (HEFER).

If you’re a tenant, it’s your responsibility to check whether your tenancy agreement allows you to complete what’s required in the actions you choose. You may need your landlord’s consent.

Capital grants to support this action

You can also apply for capital items (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/capital-items-guidance-for-applicants-and-agreement-holders) to help you achieve the action’s aims. Your Natural England adviser will discuss eligible capital items with you.

Advice to help you do this action

The following optional advice may help you to do this action. Your agreement document will set out all the activities you must do.

Choosing where to put new footpaths on your land

When choosing where you’ll provide and maintain new permissive footpaths to the public, make sure these areas:
- link with and complement existing public access
- are close to likely users but avoid areas where new public access might impact on neighbours’ privacy
You can use farm and woodland tracks.

Think about:
- routes around the perimeters of fields and any links to open access areas
- woodland routes that make an important link between existing public rights of way, other routes or areas with public access, demonstrating value for money
- the interactions between users and the environment when planning access – it’s important for users to be able to enjoy the countryside and benefit from being close to nature
- the location of any potentially aggressive animals (such as bulls) – read guidance on cattle and public access (https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ais17ew.htm)
Ideally, install any infrastructure within the first year of your agreement. You can discuss this with your Natural England adviser or Forestry Commission woodland officer.

You may wish to check your existing insurance cover and discuss your permissive access plans with them.

Check MAGIC (https://magic.defra.gov.uk/) for existing countryside and rights of way open access rights on your land. Your local authority (https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council) will publish information about public rights of way.

Establishing new footpaths

Provide and maintain footpaths with a safe and even surface. Make sure they are wide enough to allow 2 people to walk comfortably side by side with occasional passing spaces.

Create and install maps and signs at entrance points. Use signs and waymarkers to show routes the public can follow.

Read guidance on how to make your footpaths as accessible (https://www.pathsforall.org.uk/community-paths/outdoor-accessibility-guidance) to as many people as possible.

Managing footpaths

When you need to carry out essential maintenance or other operations, you can close access routes for up to 10 days a year but not on a public holiday.

Walk your permissive access routes regularly (monthly for woodland routes), so you can keep them in a safe and usable condition.

Check and replace any lost or damaged signs and cut back vegetation, so the public can access it safely.