Widths of public rights of way

Is there a legal width for public rights of way?
We can tell you the widths of some paths from the records we hold. There may be a stated width

• if the path was created by a legal action such as inclosure
• diversion measurements were taken for the definitive statement.

If there are no written records then the width is the extent of land used by the public as a highway. Landowners should cut back vegetation from adjoining land.
Some minimum widths are laid down for the reinstatement of paths after ploughing

• Footpaths -1 metre for crossfield, 1.5 metres for headland
• Bridleways - 2 metres for crossfield, 3 metres for headland

Ploughing and Cropping Leaflet | Advice for landowners | reporting overgrown paths