Definitive Map

The Definitive Map

Whilst the Ordnance Survey Map is an extremely useful series of maps allowing walkers to plan their routes and help to make sure that they will not be trespassing, it is not the Definitive Map. The Public Rights of Way shown on OS Maps are taken from local authority definitive maps and later amendments and carry a disclaimer to the effect of “The representation on this map of any road, track or path is no evidence of the existence of a right of way.”

The Definitive Map for Cornwall is held by the local authority, Cornwall Council, who are required to maintain, review and update the Definitive Map according to its legal obligations. The Definitive Map is freely accessible through the Interactive Mapping facility on Cornwall Council’s website at the link below.

So, when planning a walk, it is always advisable to check with the Definitive Map to ensure that the intended route is on public rights of way, the highway, or open access land. If the intended route is on the definitive map, it exists as a Definitive Public Right of Way.

Some Tips on using the Interactive Map:

     

• The Interactive Map includes a gamut of information, not only related to rights of way.
• It is a layered system; The icon is in the top righthand corner. Simply select the layers you want to see, by ‘ticking the boxes’.
• Click on the chevron > to the left of “Walking and Riding” then “Public Rights of Way’ from the Drop down menu.
• Further options are available including DMMO applications and Made and Confirmed Orders.
• The Baselayer can be changed by clicking on the Basemap Gallery; this includes the OS Leisure map series.
• The Road Network can be found under “Transport and Streets”
• If using ‘out in the field’ the top level menu offers a Locate Option showing you where you are.

However, that is not the end of the story! For historical reasons, the Definitive Map may not be complete. Inspection of the map will identify paths that mysteriously go nowhere obvious, or have gaps in them, especially where they might be thought to pass through farms, or they may be shown as footpaths, then become bridleways, and back to footpaths for no logical reason. All these are symptoms of the lack of thoroughness when the map was originally drawn up some  seventy years ago! This is where DMMO’s – Definitive Map Modification Orders – come in.