Since 1935, the Ramblers Association has been campaigning nationally for the "right to roam".  The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW) finally granted walkers, birdwatchers and all lovers of the countryside freedom to roam across "mountain, moor, heath and down" as well as on  registered common land without being restricted to a one-metre wide right of way.

Much work needed to be done to identify and then claim these areas all over the country.  Our local team of RA volunteers, led by Martin Biggs, undertook this long and painstaking work between 2002 and 2005.  Their efforts have resulted in many lovely parts of our area previously forbidden to the public now being classified as "Access Land" for all to enjoy.

After a rolling programme across the country, areas of access land in the southern part of the Yorkshire Wolds were finally opened up on October 31^st 2005.  Celebratory walks took place at Thixendale in June and Millington in November 2005.  (See photo gallery).

All recent versions of OS Explorer maps show access land shaded in yellow.   When out in the countryside walkers may come across signs relating to access land.  The upper sign indicates that you are about to enter access land and the lower that you are leaving access land.  Although the lower sign is worded "No access land beyond this point", walkers may of course continue if there is a right of way beyond the boundary of the access land.                                                                      

• See the list of Access sites in our area

• Find an Open access site anywhere in the country and discover whether any restrictions are in force.

• Visit our Photo gallery

• Go to the RA's Free leaflets and booklets web site.

• Find out more about the CRoW Act