http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/37/section/53/2007-05-21Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000An Act to make new provision for public access to the countryside; to amend the law relating to public rights of way; to enable traffic regulation orders to be made for the purpose of conserving an area’s natural beauty; to make provision with respect to the driving of mechanically propelled vehicles elsewhere than on roads; to amend the law relating to nature conservation and the protection of wildlife; to make further provision with respect to areas of outstanding natural beauty; and for connected purposes.2000-12-07texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-03-18Expert Participation2007-05-21 Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000s. 55ADeregulation Act 2015s. 20s. 115(7)Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000s. 56ADeregulation Act 2015s. 21s. 115(7)Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000s. 56BDeregulation Act 2015s. 22(1)s. 115(7)Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000Blanket amendmentThe Treaty of Lisbon (Changes in Terminology) Order 2011art. 3 4art. 3(2)art. 3(3) 4(2) 6(4)(5)art. 2 Part II531Subsection (2) applies to a highway if—ait was on 1st January 1949 a footpath or a bridleway, is on the cut-off date (in either case) a footpath or a bridleway, and between those dates has not been a highway of any other description,bit is not on the cut-off date shown in a definitive map and statement as a highway of any description, andcit is not on the cut-off date an excepted highway, as defined by section 54(1).2All public rights of way over a highway to which this subsection applies shall be extinguished immediately after the cut-off date.3Where a public right of way created before 1949—afalls within subsection (4) on the cut-off date, andbis not on that date an excepted right of way, as defined by section 54(5),that right of way shall be extinguished immediately after the cut-off date.4A public right of way falls within this subsection if it is—aa public right of way on horseback, leading a horse or for vehicles over a bridleway, restricted byway or byway open to all traffic which is shown in a definitive map and statement as a footpath;ba right for the public to drive animals of any description along a bridleway, restricted byway or byway open to all traffic which is shown in a definitive map and statement as a footpath;ca public right of way for vehicles over a restricted byway or byway open to all traffic which is shown in a definitive map and statement as a bridleway; orda public right of way for mechanically propelled vehicles over a byway open to all traffic which is shown in a definitive map and statement as a restricted byway.5Where by virtue of subsection (3) a highway ceases to be a bridleway, the right of way created over it by section 30 of the Countryside Act 1968 (riding of pedal cycles on bridleways) is also extinguished.6In determining—afor the purposes of subsection (1) whether any part of a highway was on 1st January 1949 a footpath or bridleway, orbfor the purposes of subsection (3) whether a public right of way over any part of a highway was created before 1st January 1949,any diversion, widening or extension of the highway on or after that date (and not later than the cut-off date) is to be treated as having occurred before 1st January 1949.7Where a way shown on the cut-off date in a definitive map and statement has at any time been diverted, widened or extended, it is to be treated for the purposes of subsections (1) to (5) as shown as so diverted, widened or extended, whether or not it is so shown.8In this section—“cut-off date” has the meaning given in section 56, and“mechanically propelled vehicle” does not include a vehicle falling within paragraph (c) of section 189(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988.1968 c. 41. 1988 c. 52.