Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 - full legislation
What this means for your business
- Enforced by
- The Crown Estate, Crown Estate Scotland, MMO, DEFRA, Forestry Commission, Natural England, NIEA, NRW, SEPA
- Applies to
- United Kingdom
- On this page
- 4 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide
What you must do
4 compliance obligations under this legislation — 1 can result in imprisonment.
Offences and prohibitions 4
Display false or misleading notice on access land
Fine up to £1,000If you put up a sign on or near access land – or on a path leading to it – that contains false or misleading information likely to discourage the public from exercising their right of access, you commit a criminal offence. On conviction in the magistrates' court you can be fined up to £200, and the court may order you to remove the sign; failing to comply with that order is a further offence that can attract a fine up to £1,000.
Intentionally or recklessly disturb protected wild birds
6 months imprisonmentIf you intentionally or recklessly disturb a wild bird, its nest or its egg that is listed in Schedule 1 (or any part or product derived from them), you commit a criminal offence. On conviction in the magistrates’ court you can be sentenced to up to six months’ imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both.
Make unauthorised limestone pavement order
Unlimited fineIf you create, issue or enforce a limestone‑pavement protection order without the legal authority to do so, you commit a criminal offence. The penalty can include a fine and/or imprisonment, but the legislation does not specify the exact limits. Businesses involved in land development, planning or natural‑heritage management should ensure any such orders are authorised by the appropriate statutory bodies.
Obstruct authorised entry under the Countryside Act
Fine up to £500If you deliberately block or interfere with a person who is authorised to enter land under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, you commit a criminal offence. On conviction in the Magistrates’ Court you can be fined up to £500. No prison term is provided for this offence.
Penalties for non-compliance
4 penalties under this legislation. 1 can result in imprisonment. 2 carry an unlimited fine.
Intentionally or recklessly disturb protected wild birds
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Make unauthorised limestone pavement order
Unlimited fine
Display false or misleading notice on access land
Fine up to £1,000
Obstruct authorised entry under the Countryside Act
Fine up to £500
Practical guidance
Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.
Sections and provisions
125 classified provisions from this legislation.
Duties 13
- s.4 Duty to prepare maps. Natural England
- s.5 Publication of draft maps.
- Schedule 6 Amendments relating to creation, stopping up and diversion of highways councils
- s.9A Review of maps (England)
- s.9 Maps in conclusive form.
- s.10 Review of maps (Wales). body from time
- s.20 Codes of conduct and other information. Natural England
- s.22 Exclusion or restriction at discretion of owner and others.
- s.41 Compensation relating to powers under s. 40. a body by which …
- s.43 Crown application of Part I. provision of this Part
- s.61 Rights of way improvement plans: supplemental.
- Schedule 9 Sites of special scientific interest Council
- Schedule 13 Areas of outstanding natural beauty: conservation boards members of that board
Offences and penalties 6
- Schedule 12 Amendments relating to Part I of Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
- s.14 Offence of displaying on access land notices deterring public use.
- s.39 Order to remove obstruction.
- s.40 Powers of entry for purposes of Part I.
- s.64 Power to order offender to remove obstruction.
- s.78 Limestone pavement orders: offence.
Powers 34
- s.2 Rights of public in relation to access land.
- s.3 Power to extend to coastal land : Wales.
- s.3A Power to extend to coastal land etc : England
- s.6 Appeal against map after confirmation.
- s.7 Appeal procedure.
- s.8 Power of Secretary of State or Assembly to delegate functions relating to appeals.
- s.17 Byelaws.
- s.18 Wardens.
- s.19 Notices indicating boundaries, etc.
- s.23 Restrictions on dogs at discretion of owner.
- s.25A Salt marshes and flats
- s.28 Defence or national security.
- s.31 Exclusion or restriction of access in case of emergency.
- s.32 Regulations relating to exclusion or restriction of access.
- s.33 Guidance by countryside bodies to National Park authorities.
- s.35 Agreements with respect to means of access.
- s.36 Failure to comply with agreement.
- s.37 Provision of access by access authority in absence of agreement.
- s.44 Orders and regulations under Part I.
- s.52 Restricted byways: power to amend existing legislation.
- ... and 14 more powers
Definitions 20
- s.12 Effect of right of access on rights and liabilities of owners.
- Schedule 14 Supplemental powers of conservation boards
- s.16 Dedication of land as access land.
- s.21 Interpretation of Chapter II.
- s.34 Interpretation of Chapter III.
- s.45 Interpretation of Part I. Inner London livestock cattle
- s.53 Extinguishment of unrecorded rights of way : England. cut-off date
- s.54 Excepted highways and rights of way : England.
- s.57 Creation, stopping up and diversion of highways.
- s.68 Vehicular access across common land etc. prescribed regulations
- s.72 Interpretation of Part II.
- s.82 Designation of areas. area of outstanding natural beauty
- s.84 Functions of certain bodies in relation to areas of outstanding natural beauty. appropriate planning authority
- s.87 General purposes and powers.
- s.92 Interpretation of Part IV and supplementary provision. the 1949 Act local authority the NRBW
- s.95 Local access forums: supplementary. local rights of way
- s.97 Duty of public bodies etc. regarding the Broads. public office
- Schedule 3 Delegation of appellate functions appointed person the appointing authority
- Schedule 11 Transitional provisions and savings relating to sites of special scientific interest old section 28 new section 28 the substitution date
- Schedule 15 Areas of outstanding natural beauty: consequential amendments and transitional provisions area of outstanding natural beauty commencement
Exemptions 13
- Schedule 1 Excepted land for purposes of Part I
- s.1 Principal definitions for Part I.
- s.24 Land management.
- s.25 Avoidance of risk of fire or of danger to the public.
- s.26 Nature conservation and heritage preservation.
- s.27 Directions by relevant authority: general.
- s.48 Restricted byway rights.
- s.55 Bridleway rights over ways shown as bridleways : England.
- s.63 Enforcement of duty to prevent obstructions.
- s.86 Establishment of conservation boards.
- s.89 Management plans.
- s.94 Local access forums.
- Schedule 2 Restrictions to be observed by persons exercising right of access