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Cornwall Countryside Access Strategy


Contents

Countryside Access in Cornwall 

Cornwall boasts a coastline and countryside of exceptional national and international significance. Access to these natural assets represents a benefit to Cornwall's residents, offering cultural connection and contributing to health and well-being. As a free and accessible recreational resource, Cornwall’s landscape plays a vital role in everyday life.

Cornwall Rights of Way Improvement Plan – Renewal 2026

Cornwall Council is preparing to renew its Rights of Way Improvement Plan (RoWIP) in 2026. This statutory plan will update the Cornwall Countryside Access Strategy (2007)
As part of this renewal, we will be launching public engagement in 2025 to ensure the updated plan reflects the needs of our communities, visitors, and the environment.

What Will the New Plan Include?

The updated plan will:

  • Set out how Cornwall Council will manage Public Rights of Way and support wider countryside access
  • Respond to changing user needs, land use, and environmental challenges
  • Propose a clear, achievable, and affordable action plan
  • Outline how we will monitor progress and measure success against defined targets

How You Can Get Involved

We want to hear from everyone who uses, manages, or is affected by countryside access in Cornwall. Your views will help shape a plan that works for all.

You can take part in the consultation and find details of engagement events on our Let’s Talk Cornwall platform.

Visit Let’s Talk CornwallWho Should Take Part?

 

We welcome feedback from individuals and organisations, especially those representing:

  • Walkers, cyclists, horse riders, and other users of Rights of Way
  • Young people
  • People with limited mobility or health-related access needs
  • Landowners and land managers
  • Local businesses
  • Environmental groups and representatives
  • Developers and planning professionals

If you represent one of these groups or would like more information, please visit the Let’s Talk Cornwall page or contact us directly.

Users of Public Rights of Way:

This report summarises users' views. Users Questionnaire

Land Managers of Public Rights of Way

This report summarises land managers' views.  Land Managers Questionnaire

Businesses' views of Public Rights of Way

This report summarises businesses' views.  Business Questionnaire

Organisations views of Public Rights of Way

This report summarises organisations' views. Organisations Questionnaire

Focus Groups

Three focus groups were held in January 2006.  These comprised a Land Users Group, a Land Managers Group and a Disabled Users Group. Facilitated by an independent consultant the aim was to discuss issues around the Cornwall Countryside Access Strategy. This report provides findings from each group. It has a combined brief summary amalgamating all three sets of findings. Highlighting key issues and recurrent themes.

Focus Groups Reports

Cornwall Local Access Forum Workshops

The suggestions gained at the CLAF workshops can be found in the consultation reports below:

These meetings gave providers of countryside access networks opportunity to input into the CCAS.  The ideas and suggestions of the providers are included.

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