Footpath - pedestrian only.

Bridleway -  Pedestrian, Horses and Bicycles.

Restricted Byway - Pedestrian, Horses, Bicycles, horse drawn carriages.

Byway - Open to all traffic.

Unclassified roads - generally open to all traffic but disputes can exist. 

Trail riding (also know as Green laning) is about finding and using these trails, legally,  appreciating them for what they are and helping to preserve them. Many people wrongly believe that the use of trails by vehicles is a somewhat delinquent and irresponsible activity.  It is true as in all walks of life that there are those who act  irresponsibly and illegally.  But the vast majority of  vehicle uses care greatly about the environment and for the consideration of other users.

Despite recent laws that reduced the number of trails with Vehicle access, there are still thousands of  Kilometres to discover and enjoy.  Over the years, many have become overgrown, neglected and almost forgotten about, and to the trail rider these are often the most interesting and exciting. Like many outdoor activities trail riding can have its danger's. It is not unusual to end up deep in the countryside far from immediate assistance. Its important that you have some good basic map reading and navigation skills and have the the knowledge and equipment to get yourself out of difficulty.  Learning to cope with the challenges is all part of the fun ! 

The interests of the trail rider in the UK are represented by the Trail Riders Fellowship. As well as assisting in publicising local routes, the TRF work hard to ensure that the trails are kept open. They present legal challenges to local councls etc. who may try to remove the legal right for access.