Where can I ride?

Of the Rights of Way network, horse riders may use bridleways, byways open to all traffic (known as 'BOATs') and roads used as public paths ('RUPPs'). In addition, there are a few unsurfaced, unclassified roads that can be used. It is not legal to ride on footpaths unless you believe you have the right to do so, or you have been given permission by the landowner.

How do I find out about which paths are which?
A Map of Rights of Way in Hampshire shows all the rights of way; this is updated daily but is not guaranteed to reflect the official legal position. A copy of the legal Definitive Map may be consulted at the the county council's Rights of Way Office in Mottisfont Court, Winchester - please contact us if you would like to visit. You should also look at information on how to find and follow Rights of Way on maps and on the ground.

However, in practice the various classes of rights of way are shown on modern Ordnance Survey maps. The best are the Explorer series (orange covers) or the Outdoor Leisure series (yellow covers) which deal with the New Forest and other holiday areas. These are available at most bookshops or direct from the Ordnance Survey. Those that cover Hampshire are as follows:

No 158 Newbury; No 159 Reading; No 130 Salisbury and Stonehenge; No 131 Romsey and Andover; No 144 Basingstoke; No 145 Aldershot; No 132 Winchester; No 133 Petersfield and Haslemere; No 22 (Outdoor Leisure series) New Forest; No 119 Meon Valley; No 120 Chichester; No 29 (Outdoor Leisure series) Isle of Wight

Rights of Way are also shown on the Landranger (pink cover) series, but there is less detail (for instance field boundaries are not shown), and therefore they are less suitable for picking your way across country. Beware of old maps - they do not show definitive Rights of Way reliably.

The British Horse Society published a book of rides titled 'Hampshire on Horseback'; although this is now slightly out of date, it is still full of interesting ideas of where to go and what to see.

Other riding opportunities
As well as the Rights of Way and minor road network, other free of charge and permit/paid-for opportunities for riding may exist locally. For example, some of the countryside sites managed by the County Council, such as Queen Elizabeth Country Park, offer permissive riding on routes which are not Rights of Way, as does the Forestry Commission for routes in the New Forest. Details may be available from local clubs, societies and riding stables.

The Explore More of Hampshire site gives ideas for days out on foot, bicycle and horseback for for each area of Hampshire.

The British Horse Society web-pages for the South East also give useful information about the area.