Introduction - Tourism and Trails: Cultural, Ecological and Management Issues - page 5

relatively accessible and short in length. Such a phenomenon in the US would
more commonly be referred to as a trail. Despite some differences, for ease
of discussion, this topic uses the words trail, corridor, route, path and others
interchangeably to encompass all forms of linear, human-designated attrac-
tions, even though the authors are cognizant of many subtle and not so
subtle differences between different terms. While recognizing this treatment
of terms, the following sections set out to define other linear recreation and
tourism corridors that are an important part of the global system of routes
and trails.
Paths and bridleways
Paths, footpaths and tracks usually indicate narrow walkways that have
been trodden or beaten by humans, animals, bicycles or other agents. They
are a type of trail typically found in wilderness and rural areas, although
many footpaths have also been labeled in towns and cities, frequently in
parks or along streams and canals. Paths are used for recreational purposes,
such as countryside strolling, or for transportation in towns or between vil-
lages. Bridleways or bridle trails are similar to pathways, except that they
may also be used to ride or lead horses, and some bridleways are devoted
solely to horseback riding (Beeton, 1999a; Countryside Panel, 1987).
Right of way is a related term more common in the UK and Europe than
in North America or other parts of the world that refers to open-access paths
that the public has a legal right to use at any time (Natural England, 2012;
Wolfe, 1998). Rights of way in England are classified as footpaths for walk-
ing; bridleways, where horse riding and cycling are allowed in addition to
walking; and byways, which are open to all traffic (Walker, 1996). The
Countryside Commission, which was subsumed in 1999 and its responsibili-
ties spread to other nature and rural agencies, had as its original purpose
promoting public rights of way to develop 'networks of well signposted and
maintained routes throughout the countryside, giving ready access from
towns, linking points of interest in the countryside, and coordinated with
accommodation, car parks, publicity and guides' (Walker, 1996: 28). In addi-
tion to rights of way paths, according to the Countryside and Rights of Way
Act 2000, the public is permitted to walk freely on mapped rural areas with-
out having to remain on prescribed paths. At their disposal is approximately
865,000 hectares of open-access land (Natural England, 2012), which has
opened up considerable debate in the UK and paved the way for more ram-
bling options for day trippers and tourists.
There are several different official scales associated with rights of way.
In 1989, the Countryside Commission in the UK established parish paths
and community paths, local walks and rides, regional routes and national
trails. The first type, parish paths and community paths, were marked
from roadways and noted on ordinance survey maps. They were to be