Bridal way

[Hilly]

In Scotland is it legal to run a bussiness on a bridal way ? Ie a race horse trainer training horses ? Seems a bit naff someone can run a business on my business ? Moderator feel free to move if I’m i. The wrong place I did look but couldn’t really find anywhere that suited .

 

[Muddyroads]

Sounds pretty inconsiderate to other users!

 

[Hilly]

Sounds pretty inconsiderate to other users!

I don’t have a problem with it yet ..... but I want to know the law before it becomes a problem , I like to see people out enjoying country side on horse for fun but I think if they charging folk to train horses then riding them on others land they should be paying or not doing it ? They will say it’s a bridal path but hmmmm

 

[Muddyroads]

is it also a public footpath? Going full tilt on 1 or more horses on a public right of way would result in a very interesting risk assessment!
Do you have local authority footpath officers in the way we do in England? Worth a call if you do, ours is very helpful.

 

[Johnnyboxer]

I don't think they are breaking any laws
Plenty of pony trekking businesses taking paying punters on bridleways and forest routes, plus tracks etc
Similarly 4x4 experience operators take groups of paying punters on UCR's in the Lakes and Dales, either in the operator's 4wd vehicles or the punters' own 4wd LR or Jeep - similarly trail riding businesses do tours of Wales, guided by their staff and you take you own bike.
They all use public Rights of Way in England and Wales - but I don't know if Scotland is different?

 

[pgk]

Confused by that title, no mention of any brides

 

[betweenthelines]

Not legal in England. Public Rights of Way are to facilitate moving from one place to another (originally for things like going to Church, visiting a neighbouring village etc) and not to be used for commercial purposes.

 

[farmerm]

Not legal in England. Public Rights of Way are to facilitate moving from one place to another (originally for things like going to Church, visiting a neighbouring village etc) and not to be used for commercial purposes.

Is there legislation to back up that theory? In those original days did nobody use bridal ways to travel to a neighboring village carrying goods on their horse for commercial purposes or to meet someone for some other commercial exchange?

I suspect there is little legally to stop someone taking advantage of a bridleway for their own commercial gain. If someone was using the bridleways here as a gallops and degrading the surface as a result and despite being asked not to, I would maybe look at measures to make it a less attractive venue... upgrade the track with stone in a number of very short sections... safe to walk a horse on but not suitable to gallop over. Some highly strung racehorses will shy from passing strange objects near their path... and how about some staggered fencing or other obstacles that can be easy navigated though but not taken at speed...

 

[Johnnyboxer]

Not legal in England.

Public Rights of Way are to facilitate moving from one place to another (originally for things like going to Church, visiting a neighbouring village etc) and not to be used for commercial purposes.

Rubbish ......

How does that work?

Plenty of walking groups and pony trekkers, plus the off road brigade use English ROW to run their commercial businesses on
I could advertise a 10 mile walk, as a tour guide and (in normal times) get 10-20 punters to come, each paying £10 to me, to guide them
Another example I could write a book with 20 different local walks in it, with maps on routes etc on the footpaths and BW and sell it for £20 a book

Where is the law to stop it?

I could charge groups of walkers, as a walking guide to walk the footpaths over your land & you could not prevent me walking over your land and charging folk for the pleasure

 

[Purli R]

Rubbish ......

How does that work?

Plenty of walking groups and pony trekkers, plus the off road brigade use English ROW to run their commercial businesses on
I could advertise a 10 mile walk, as guide and (in normal times) get 10-20 punters to come, each paying £10 to me, to guide them
Another example I could write a book with 20 different local walks in it, with maps on routes etc on the footpaths and BW and sell it for £20 a book

Where is the law to stop it?

I could charge groups of walkers, as a walking guide to walk the footpaths over your land & you could not prevent me walking over your land and charging folk for the pleasure

This^^

 

[Downtrodden Dad]

I had an issue a few years ago, every day 2 or 3 race horses turned up and galloped up the bridleway. Ended up making a mess of the area. When I confronted the riders they were most apologetic but when their boss rang he was had a different attitude and told me I couldn't stop them. I contacted land agents right of way officer's and Google and they agreed with him. Luckily they must have had second thoughts and came very infrequently after that, but it was a bit of a nightmare at the time.

 

[Agrivator]

In Scotland, I would be surprised if private land can be used by anyone for commercial purposes without the Landowner's permission.

It would be quite in order to charge a racehorse trainer to use private land, and if the trainer refused to pay, it would be quite in order for the Landowner to ban them.

 

[YorkshireAndrew]

When I first saw the title of this post I immediately thought of @Bald Rick , I’ve genuinely no idea why . [emoji849]

 

[Johnnyboxer]

In Scotland, I would be surprised if private land can be used by anyone for commercial purposes without the Landowner's permission.

It would be quite in order to charge a racehorse trainer to use private land, and if the trainer refused to pay, it would be quite in order for the Landowner to ban them.

I think that is not the case on a public ROW unless Scotland is different in ROW law

Different to Right to Roam, on private land

 

[Exfarmer]

The usage of ROWs for commercial business is contentious, but I suspect provided drivers And operators are correctly licensed and third party insurance is paid little can be done. It is very little different to carrying out a commercial operation on any other public highway. However if the public authorities cannot main tainthe surface to the satisfaction of said operators , I suspect they will be less likely to use them

 

[Johnnyboxer]

The usage of ROWs for commercial business is contentious, but I suspect provided drivers And operators are correctly licensed and third party insurance is paid little can be done.

It is very little different to carrying out a commercial operation on any other public highway.

However if the public authorities cannot main tainthe surface to the satisfaction of said operators , I suspect they will be less likely to use them

Who and why could you stop them?

Public access is public access

Same as the tarmac main roads, same public rights to use for commercial gain, by anybody

 

[betweenthelines]

Rubbish ......

How does that work?

Plenty of walking groups and pony trekkers, plus the off road brigade use English ROW to run their commercial businesses on
I could advertise a 10 mile walk, as a tour guide and (in normal times) get 10-20 punters to come, each paying £10 to me, to guide them
Another example I could write a book with 20 different local walks in it, with maps on routes etc on the footpaths and BW and sell it for £20 a book

Where is the law to stop it?

I could charge groups of walkers, as a walking guide to walk the footpaths over your land & you could not prevent me walking over your land and charging folk for the pleasure

Gov.uk website
Rights of Way
First sentence is "You have the right to access legal Rights of Way for leisure activities"


Just because lots of people do something, doesn't make it Legal.


Rights of Way are NOT public highways.

 

[Jackov Altraids]

Confused by that title, no mention of any brides

What you are thinking of;

What @Bald Rick is thinking.....

 

[Johnnyboxer]

Rights of Way are NOT public highways.

Yes they are public highways

A BOAT - Byway open to all traffic

UUCR - unsurfaced unclassified County Road

Green Lanes

They carry the same rights and restrictions as tarmac road and carry the normal national 60 mph speed limit (unless signed otherwise at a lower limit)

Like tarmac A, B& C roads - They can have weight, axle limit or width restrictions and can be made no entry to vehicles either permanently, seasonally or temporarily by way of a sealed order and also made 1 way only

Or they can be completely restriction free

So a grassy track UUCR over farmland can be driven at 60mph if you are able to do it

Vehicles using UUCR and BOAT green lanes must be taxed and insured and the driver or rider must hold the appropriate licence

No landowners permission is needed to use them in England or Wales

Blocking up or restricting access is an obstruction of the public highway and only a Police officer can lawfully stop & detain you on a public ROW (fp, BW or green lane)

FP/BW & Restricted Byway are also public highways in law, for foot/cycle & horses and/or carriages as appropriate

 

[Johnnyboxer]

Green Lanes - this a vehicular UUCR, a public access unsurfaced unclassified County Road across private land and maintained at Council expense & by the landowners

It has it’s own unique road number - just like the A1 or the M1 has

It can be used by walkers, cyclists, horse riders and motorcycles & 4x4’s