Bridleway Information
The Definitive Map
This is a map prepared by a surveying authority (in this area either East Sussex County Council, West Sussex County Council or Brighton and Hove City Council) that is a legal record of the public’s rights of way (footpath, bridleway, restricted byway or bridleway open to all traffic). If a way is shown on the Definitive Map it is legal or conclusive evidence that the public had those rights along the path at the relevant date of the map, and have them still, unless there has been a legally authorised change.
Definitive maps can be viewed at each Council’s offices. Mid Sussex District Council also has a copy of the Definitive Map for those parishes within its district. Parish Councils should have copies of the Definitive Map for their own parish. Each right of way is known by a number along with the name of the parish that it is in (eg Wivelsfield 28 , Ditchling 29, etc). These numbers are detailed on the Definitive Maps. You will see that a path will change its name slightly as it passes a junction with another route (Westmeston 11a changes to Westmeston 11b as it passes a junction with a footpath) and hugely when it passes across a parish boundary (Streat 7 becomes Plumpton 9 for example).
For West Susssex paths the WSCC website contains an interactive map facility which enable you to look up the Bridleway numbers from the comfort of your own computer! The rights of way have been overlaid clearly on the maps and can be viewed at several levels of detail.
Click here for article from Spring 2005 MSABG Newsletter.