Each path is classified according to who is allowed to use it. The classifications are:
- footpath (pedestrians only)
- bridleway (pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders only)
- restricted byway (no motor vehicles)
- byway (open to all traffic)
A public right of way is a path that can be used for leisure and recreation by anybody at any time.
For more information about Portsmouth public rights of way, email rightsofway@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or contact the Safer Travel Team, Civic Offices, Guildhall Square, Portsmouth, PO1 2AL.
Hampshire Countryside Access Forum (see below) and Gov.uk have more information on public rights of way.
The rights of way network in Portsmouth connects people of all ages and abilities to recreation, history, culture and shopping areas.
There are over 100 footpaths across Portsmouth that are part of our rights of way network. Our Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) helps us to develop a clearly defined plan that supports a high quality, well maintained public rights of way network.
The Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2023 – 2033 sets out a clear action plan for managing, developing, and improving the rights of way network for everyone living, working or visiting Portsmouth, and was officially adopted on Thursday 19 January 2023.
The plan highlights the key requirements for the council to meet its statutory duty as the highway authority and identifies opportunities to improve the rights of way network.
Through this strategy we will continue to support and maintain a high quality, well- maintained public rights of way network throughout the city.
View the results of the public consultation
This was held between 15 November 2021 and 25 February 2022.
Each path is classified according to who is allowed to use it. The classifications are:
Portsmouth rights of way are shown in a series of maps downloadable below.
As a user, your rights and responsibilities are to:
Landowners’ responsibilities to the rights of way on their land are to:
A landowner can give the public the right to use a route over their land, that is, ‘dedicating’ the route as a public right of way. Legally a dedication must be for all the public, and for all time, but the landowner can determine who can use the route, for example pedestrians only, or pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.
Sometimes routes are used as public rights of way over time. The presumption here is that, at some time in the past, the landowner either dedicated the way as public, but has lost the evidence of the dedication, or the landowner made no objection to the public using the route. To be legally acceptable, the public must have been openly using the route, without interruption, for a period of twenty years.
Landowners can deposit maps with the council showing any public rights of way on their land, together with a declaration to the effect that they do not intend to dedicate any other routes. Hampshire County Council has more information on this.
The Camber
Please read the Definitive Map Modification Order and accompanying General Notice below.
Register of applications – Portsmouth City Council keeps a register of applications that have been made to change the definitive map of public rights of way. This register means that landowners, users of rights of way and the general public can see applications that could result in changes to the definitive map.
To register an application for creating, diverting, modifying or extinguishing (withdrawing) a Public Right of Way, please email rightsofway@portsmouthcc.gov.uk stating the following:
What you are applying for (creation, diversion, modification or extinguishment of a right of way)?
In the table below is the list of applications made in accordance with the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Status | Area | Description of route claimed | Grid reference from/to | Notice served |
---|---|---|---|---|
Not found | Map 1 Paulsgrove | Portsdown Hill Road near Churchillian Pub to Skew Road | 466135/462597 | Nov 99 |
Found | Map 9 Eastney | Side of 57 Halliday Crescent to footpath at junction of Henderson Road | 467409/467418 | May 06 |
Found | Map 9 Eastney | Green is opposite 1 Driftwood Gardens to junction of footpath at Henderson Road | 467409/467449 | May 06 |
Not found | Map 9 Eastney | Rear of garages opposite flats 85-95 Halliday Crescent to the side of 10 Halliday Crescent | 467382/467388 | Sept 06 |
Found | Map 4 Baffins | Side of 157 Stanley Avenue to the dirt track at the rear of 157 Stanley Avenue | 467015/467029 | Nov 06 |
Not found Appeal dismissed by Planning Inspectorate | Map 8 Southsea | Outer edge of The Camber Dock Old Portsmouth | 462983/462989 | Nov 14 |
Applications for Modification Order under Section 53(2) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The application(s) are currently being reviewed | Map 8 Southsea | From Trimmers Court at junction with East Street proceeding northwards with Quayside edge proceeding south along water edge to Bridge Tavern turning west along inner Camber basin edge to southern end of Trimmers Court. | 462983/462989 | Jul 16 |
The application(s) are currently being reviewed | Map 4 Baffins | Compton Road – Battenburg Avenue | 465789/465772 | June 2019 |
The Hampshire Countryside Access Forum provides advice on management and maintenance policies for rights of way and access land. It principally advises Hampshire County Council, Southampton and Portsmouth City Councils, but also government bodies and user groups.
The forum meets quarterly. Members of the public are welcome to attend, submit a question or make a representation. For more information email sgs@hants.gov.uk
All Portsmouth rights of way in numerical order
Rights of way – Map 1 Paulsgrove area
Rights of way – Map 2 Cosham area
Rights of way – Map 3 Farlington area
Rights of way – Map 4 Hilsea area
Rights of way – Map 5 North End area
Rights of way – Map 6 City Centre area
Rights of way – Map 7 Milton area
Rights of way – Map 8 Southsea area
Rights of way – Map 9 Eastney area
Rights of Way – Improvement Plan 2023 – 2033
Rights of Way – Portsmouth Map
Rights of Way – Sites of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI)
The Camber – Definitive map modification order 2022
The Camber – Definitive map modification order 2022 accessible
Camber appeal letter and Camber appeal map
Compton Road footpath – Definitive map modification order
Compton Road footpath – Definitive map modification order accessible
Compton Road footpath – General Site Notice of modification order
Compton Road footpath – General Site Notice of modification order accessible
(more information under ‘Rights of way orders and register of applications’)