Annotated map reproduced courtesy of Googlemaps.
At the time of the BHS 2022 Access Survey (10 Apr 22), there were no gates across the path. It was signposted at the southern end and waymarked at the northern end. There was a pile of wood across the route at one point making passage by horse drawn vehicle impossible. Otherwise the path was pleasant and clearly of use by equestrians.
Signage at southern end
Photo: Phil Wadey, 10 Apr 2022
Looking generally Northwards
Photo: Phil Wadey, 10 Apr 2022
Continuing Northwards
Photo: Phil Wadey, 10 Apr 2022
Continuing Northwards
Photo: Phil Wadey, 10 Apr 2022
Looking South from Hitchin 28
Photo: Phil Wadey, 10 Apr 2022
As part of the British Horse Society’s work to record paths before
Path Extinguishment Day,
it was spotted that this route was unrecorded on the definitive map of rights of way.
The historical evidence showed a continuous route with Hitchin 28 Byway, so an application was made in 2013 to record the route.
The County Council agreed with the application and an order was made in 2021
and confirmed unopposed.
This is a good example of ‘perfectly obvious paths’ that would be made unrecordable by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 if an application had not been made in time.
