Editing Trail (section)

===UK and Ireland===
In England and Wales, many trails and footpaths are of ancient origin and are protected under law as [[Rights of way in the United Kingdom|rights of way]]. In [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], the [[Keep Ireland Open]] organization is campaigning for similar rights.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.keepirelandopen.org/ |title=Keep Ireland Open |access-date=4 April 2012 |website=keepirelandopen.org |archive-date=17 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417131908/http://www.keepirelandopen.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Local highway authorities, in England and Wales, (usually [[county councils]] or [[Unitary authority#United Kingdom|unitary authorities]]) are required to maintain the definitive map of all public rights of way in their areas, and these can be inspected at council offices. If a path is shown on the [[definitive map]], and no subsequent order (e.g. a stopping up) exists, then the right of way is conclusive in law. But just because a path is not on that map, does not mean that it is not a public path, as the rights may not have been recorded. The [[Countryside Agency]] estimated that over 10% of public paths are not yet listed on the definitive map. The [[Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000]] provides that paths that are not recorded on the definitive map by 2026 and that were in use prior to 1949 will automatically be deemed stopped-up on 1&nbsp;January 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/37/section/53/notes |url-status=live |access-date=7 February 2021 |website=legislation.gov.uk |archive-date=23 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123111834/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/37/section/53/notes }}</ref>

In Scotland, [[Rights of way in Scotland|a right of way]] is a route over which the public has passed unhindered for at least 20 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rights of way in Scotland |url=http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/access/sr-sprow.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726005816/http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/access/sr-sprow.pdf  |archive-date=26 July 2015 |access-date=7 February 2021}}</ref> The route must link two "public places", such as villages, churches or roads. Unlike in England and Wales, there is no obligation on Scottish [[Local government of Scotland|local authorities]] to signpost or mark a right of way. The charity [[Scotways]], formed in 1845 to protect rights of way, records and signs the routes. There is no legal distinction between [[footpaths]] and bridleways in Scotland, as there is in England and Wales, though it is generally accepted that cyclists and horseback riders may follow rights of way with suitable surfaces.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

[[File:Scottish Rights of Way Society Sign - geograph.org.uk - 249365.jpg|thumb|alt=Photograph of a sign indicating a Scottish public path |Scotways sign for a Scottish public path]]
The [[Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003]] established a general presumption of access to all land in Scotland, making the existence of rights of way less important in terms of access to land in Scotland. Certain categories of land are excluded from this presumption of open access such as railway land, airfields and private gardens.<ref>{{cite web|title=Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 asp 2|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2003/2/pdfs/asp_20030002_en.pdf|access-date=4 March 2017|website=legislation.gov.uk|archive-date=2 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302070229/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2003/2/pdfs/asp_20030002_en.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Northern Ireland]] has very few public rights of way and access to land there is more restricted than other parts of the UK. In many areas, walkers can enjoy the countryside only because of the goodwill and tolerance of landowners.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.walkni.com/useful-info/ |title=Access |website=walkni.com |access-date=13 June 2015 |archive-date=3 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703105408/http://www.walkni.com/useful-info/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Northern Ireland shares the same legal system as England, including concepts about the ownership of land and public rights of way, but it has its own court structure, system of precedents and specific access legislation.<ref>{{cite web|title=A Guide to Public Rights of Way and Access to the Countryside|publisher=Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland|url=http://www.doeni.gov.uk/index/information/foi/.../publications-details.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019105343/http://www.doeni.gov.uk/index/information/foi/.../publications-details.htm |archivedate=19 October 2014 }}</ref>

In England and Wales a National Trails system of [[long-distance footpath]]s also exists administered by [[Natural England]] and the [[Natural Resources Wales]], statutory agencies of the [[UK government|UK]] and the [[Welsh Government]]s, respectively. These include [[Hadrian's Wall Path]], the [[Pembrokeshire Coast Path]], the [[Pennine Bridleway]] (bridleway), the [[South West Coast Path]] (South West Way) (the longest), and the [[Thames Path]], and many more. Together these are over {{cvt|4000|km}} long.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore your National Trails |url=https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/trails/ |access-date=14 September 2022 |website=National Trails |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In Scotland, the equivalent trails are called [[Scotland's Great Trails]] and are administered by [[NatureScot]]. The first, and probably the most popular, is the [[West Highland Way]], which is {{cvt|152|km}} long and was opened in 1980.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scottish Natural HeritageCommissioned Report No. 380 Developing the network of longer distance routes |url=https://www.nature.scot/sites/default/files/2017-07/Publication%202010%20-%20SNH%20Commissioned%20Report%20380%20-%20Developing%20the%20network%20of%20longer%20distance%20routes.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=7 February 2021 |website=nature.scot |archive-date=8 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808171732/https://www.nature.scot/sites/default/files/2017-07/Publication%202010%20-%20SNH%20Commissioned%20Report%20380%20-%20Developing%20the%20network%20of%20longer%20distance%20routes.pdf }}</ref>

[[Sustrans]] is a British charity that promotes [[sustainable transport]], and it works on projects to encourage people to walk, [[bicycle|cycle]], and use public transport, to give people the choice of "travelling in ways that benefit their health and the environment".<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Sustrans |url=http://www.sustrans.org.uk/default.asp?sID=1091003006653&pID= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927003537/http://www.sustrans.org.uk/default.asp?sID=1091003006653&pID= |archive-date=27 September 2007 |access-date=7 February 2021 |website=sustrans.org}}</ref> Sustrans' flagship project is the National Cycle Network, which has created over {{cvt|14,000|mi}} of signed [[cycle route]]s throughout the UK.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/national-cycle-network/about |title=About the National Cycle Network |publisher=Sustrans |access-date=17 March 2014 |archive-date=25 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325133704/http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/national-cycle-network/about |url-status=live }}</ref>