A definitive map is a record of public

rights of way Right of way is the legal right, established by grant from a landowner or long usage (i.e. by prescription), to pass along a specific route through property belonging to another. A similar ''right of access'' also exists on land held by a gov ...

in England and Wales. In law it is the definitive record of where a right of way is located. The highway authority (normally the county council, or unitary authority in areas with a one-tier system) has a statutory duty to maintain a definitive map. In national parks, the National Park Authority usually maintains the map. The

Inner London Inner London is the name for the group of London boroughs which form the interior part of Greater London and are surrounded by Outer London. With its origins in the bills of mortality, it became fixed as an area for statistics in 1847 and was use ...

boroughs are exempt from the statutory duty, though they have the powers to maintain a map: currently none does so. Details of the definitive map process are set out in the

Natural England Natural England is a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It is responsible for ensuring that England's natural environment, including its land, flora and fauna ...

document ''A guide to definitive maps and changes to public rights of way''.https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/414670/definitive-map-guide.pdf Each right of way also has a written description referred to as the definitive statement. Generally the definitive map takes legal precedence over the definitive statement.

Examples of Definitive Maps

References

External links

Public Paths and the Definitive Map from the Ramblers Association

Definitive Map Orders: Consistency Guidelines from the

Planning Inspectorate The Planning Inspectorate for England (sometimes referred to as PINS) is an executive agency of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities of the United Kingdom Government with responsibility for making decisions and providing rec ...

List of online Definitive Maps for each UK county

document ''A guide to definitive maps and changes to public rights of way'' Road transport in the United Kingdom Maps of the United Kingdom Walking in the United Kingdom Footpaths in the United Kingdom {{law-term-stub