Public Rights of Way
There are approximately 750 kilometres of Public Rights of Way (PRoWs) managed by the Council. The network provides links between; the countryside, towns, and villages, and enables the public to explore the local countryside and heritage.
What is a Public Right of Way?
A Public Right of Way is a route registered on the Definitive Map under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. There are routes in towns, villages and the countryside, though footpaths are not to be confused with highway footways e.g. pavements on the side of the road.
Public Rights of Way are public footpaths, bridleways and byways. The council endeavours to ensure that Public Rights of Way are signposted off roads and way marked along the paths.
There are also permissive paths within the borough where landowners (including the Council) have given permission and provision for the public to walk across their land. These paths are not recorded on the Definitive Map.
Public Footpaths
For use on foot only. - There are over 650km of footpaths in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Bridleway
For use on foot, horseback and bicycle.
There are over 80km of bridleway in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Byway
Open to all traffic including motor vehicles.
There are over 18km of byways in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Permissive Footpath
For use on foot only under an agreement with the Landowner
Guidance note for users of Public Rights of Way during or following inclement weather
The Public Rights of Way network is made up of footpaths, bridleways and byways, the surfaces of which vary according to the class of use. For example the surface of a footpath should be suitable for the exercise of the Public Right of Way on foot. Some routes will have a natural surface; the condition of which will vary depending on location, weather conditions, and seasons. The same will apply to semi-urban routes that may have a tarmac or stone surface.
It is the responsibility of each user of a Public Right of Way to take the necessary precautions before proceeding. Therefore, the user should assess the general state of the route, take appropriate care and be prepared to take an alternative if necessary. Additionally, the user should wear suitable clothing and footwear depending on the weather conditions e.g. taking waterproofs, wellingtons and /or carrying extra warm clothes when appropriate.
The user should take special care during or following a period of inclement weather e.g. unusually high levels of rainfall where certain surfaces will become slippery or waterlogged depending on the type of terrain.
Other sources of information:
Walking Trails | Visit Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales (rctcbc.gov.uk)
Rights of Way in England and Wales - Ramblers
Natural Resources Wales / Public Rights of Way in Wales
Public rights of way | GOV.WALES