The North York Moors has around 1,400 miles (2,200km) of public rights of way, and most of the open moorland and Forestry England woodland is open access land you can explore on foot. Knowing which is which tells you where you can go, and whether you can take a bike, a horse or a dog.
The four kinds of right of way
Signposts and waymarkers are colour coded, and the same routes are marked on Ordnance Survey maps.
Public footpath: for walkers and people using mobility aids.
Public bridleway: for walkers, mobility aid users, horse riders and cyclists.
Restricted byway: as a bridleway, plus horse-drawn vehicles. No motor vehicles.
Byway open to all traffic: for all users, including motor vehicles. Some green lanes in the park have permanent traffic regulation orders limiting vehicles, so check before driving or riding one.
Other paths you will meet
Concessionary paths are not rights of way. The landowner lets you use them and can withdraw that permission.
National Trails, including the Cleveland Way, are marked with an acorn symbol, usually alongside the coloured arrow.
Open access land
On open access land, which covers most of the moorland and common land, you can walk where you like without sticking to a path. Ordnance Survey Explorer maps show it with an orange border. Forestry England has dedicated much of its woodland as access land too, and lets cyclists and horse riders use the main forest tracks.
Access land is for people on foot. You can only cycle or ride on bridleways, and only drive on byways open to all traffic.
Access land can be closed for a while for land management, and forests for tree felling or motor rallies. Look for signs. Rights of way across it stay open.
Natural England lists current access restrictions.
Dogs
Dogs are not allowed on most grouse moorland in the North York Moors except on public rights of way. On those paths, keep them on a short lead or close to heel so they stay on the line of the path.
Where dogs are allowed on access land, the law requires a short lead from 1 March to 31 July, when ground-nesting birds are breeding, and near livestock at any time.
On any right of way, keep your dog under close control.
Cattle
Meeting cattle on a path is normal. Beef bulls can be kept in fields with public paths if cows or heifers are with them. Dairy bulls should never be in a field crossed by a right of way. To stay safe:
Walk around cows with calves, never between them.
If cattle approach, walk on calmly and keep your dog at heel.
If you feel threatened, let go of your dog. It can outrun cattle, and so can you once they follow it.
If in doubt, do not go into the field.
Paths change
Rights of way are sometimes diverted or closed for a while, and printed maps are not always up to date. Before a long walk, check the National Park's rights of way notices and its interactive rights of way map.
Report a problem
If you find a blocked path, a broken gate or stile, a missing sign or an intimidating dog, tell the National Park Authority using its rights of way feedback form. Its rangers fix the most important routes first, such as National Trails and promoted walks, so low-priority problems can take a long time. Landowners are responsible for gates and stiles, but rangers often help on busier routes. Report dog fouling to the local district or borough council.
