CPAC5: Upgrading Countryside and Rights of Way ‘open access land’ and public rights of way for cyclists and horse riders
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

£158 per 100 metres (m) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is to provide and maintain access for cyclists and horse riders alongside existing public footpaths or on Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) open access land. 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 you can include with your Natural England adviser or Forestry Commission woodland officer.

You cannot do this action on land that has existing 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 bridleways and cycle routes with a safe and even surface which are wide enough for walkers, cycles and horses to pass
- create and install signs and maps at entrance points, and waymarks along access 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 make sure they’re safe, and take remedial action where necessary
- maintain sward height to allow easy walking and riding
- link CROW open access land, or public rights of way to other access routes
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 get the necessary permissions you need at the start of your agreement unless stated otherwise. You should install any relevant 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)
- advice from your local highway authority if upgrading existing rights of way
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 provide access on your land

When choosing where you’ll provide and maintain access for cyclists and horse riders, make sure these routes:
- 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
- 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.

Discuss your plans with the highway authority for Public Rights of Way and access authority for Countryside Rights of Way.

Establishing access

Provide and maintain bridleways and cycle routes with a safe and even surface. Make sure they are wide enough to allow 2 people to cycle or ride comfortably side by side with occasional passing places.

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

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

Managing access

When you need to carry out essential maintenance or other operations, you can close the permissive access route for up to 10 days a year but not on a public holiday. The open access land or public right of way will remain open.

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

Check and replace any lost or damaged signs and cut back surface and overhanging vegetation. Think about the height of cyclists and horse riders, so they can use the routes safely.