Countryside Access

ECCP's Rights Of Way Work

ECCP maintains all Public Rights of Way in the rural district of Carlisle on behalf of Carlisle City Council (for urban area contact Carlisle City Council's Countryside Section; other districts, contact Capita Symonds).

Our aim is that all paths should be accessible, sign posted from the road and where necessary, way marked along the route. Resources are allocated according to a hierarchy of areas to ensure maximum public benefit.

ECCP working with the community
We welcome reports from the public to let us know where attention is needed. These will be dealt with according to our hierarchy. We work with community groups, e.g. Ramblers Association, British Horse Society, Cumbria Bridleway Society and Parish Councils. We welcome partnership projects to enable local interests to be best served.

ECCP providing Access for All
We work with Parish Councils to improve accessibility by replacing stiles with kissing gates and by improving surfacing on strategic paths. We also plan for maximum user benefit where feasible, allowing horse-riders and cyclists to use routes alongside walkers.

Contact
Andrew Nicholson, (01228) 564847 or via contact us with reports on path condition.

Countryside users rights & responsibilities
(on public rights of way)

Our Rights
Walkers have the right to walk any public footpath, bridleway or byway.
Horse-riders and cyclists - any public bridleway or byway.
Trail riders or 4x4s - byways only.

Our Responsibilities
Please respect occupiers by:
Keeping to the path
Keeping dogs under close control
Leaving gates as you find them

Open Access
(right to roam)

From 28 May 2005, whole swathes of the Cumbrian countryside are open for walkers to enjoy. Open Access land is shown on a series of leaflets and information panels available throughout the county. For info and maps which show the Open Access areas visit Countryside Access. For local Cumbria enquiries contact Cumbria County Council

Phone the national Access Helpline on 0845 100 3298 for all enquiries, or 01228 601022 for Cumbria County Council.

Please remember that the new Open Access land is for walking only.

Dogs must be kept on a fixed lead no more than 2m long between 1 March and 31 July
Dogs may be excluded on land used for lambing for up to 6 weeks a year, and in areas important for groud nesting birds.

Horse riders and cyclists need to make sure that they keep to public bridleways across open country.