Maps of Open Country and Registered Common Land

The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 grants a new right of access to the public to areas of Open Country (mountain, moor, heath and down) and Registered Common Land for the purposes of open-air recreation. The new right is for access on foot and came into effect on 19th September 2004.

Before the new right came into effect it was important that the new areas, which would be subject to the provisions of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, had been mapped correctly so that everyone knew where they could walk.

The Countryside Agency published a Draft Map for the lower north-west of England (Mapping Area 2) in November 2001. The maps for Wirral were displayed at Birkenhead Central Library for public consultation. The Merseyside Local Access Forum was also consulted on the Draft Map

The Countryside Agency took all of the public’s comments into consideration and a Provisional Map was published on 18th November 2002.

A three-month consultation period was then allowed for anyone with a legal interest (i.e. landowners, tenants, or anyone holding grazing rights, porting rights, or private rights of way) to appeal to the Secretary of State over decisions to include land recorded on the Provisional Map.

Information on the appeals process can be found on the Planning Inspectorate’s website. 

The Conclusive Map of Open Country and Registered Common Land for the lower north-west of England was published at midday on 2nd June 2004.

The Conclusive Map for Wirral is available for inspection during normal office hours at Cheshire Lines Building, Birkenhead. 

An appointment is not necessary, but telephoning in advance would be helpful.

All of the maps for the lower north-west of England are available to view on the Natural England's mapping website.

The maps are not walking maps and must not be used as definitive evidence about where people can walk. The Conclusive Map only shows Registered Common Land (shaded green) and Open Country (shaded yellow). They do not show categories of land excepted under the new right or land with access rights apart from the Countryside and Rights of Way Act. The Conclusive Map also does not show land dedicated under the 2000 Act or land where restrictions are in place.