The May bank holiday weekend heralds the arrival of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (CRoW) – better known as the right to roam - in the North East, North West and Wales. On Saturday May 28, the public will have a legal right of access to some of Britain’s most spectacular countryside with millions of hectares of rugged wilderness land finally accessible for exploration on foot.
Rhys Ifans, the Welsh star of Notting Hill, Enduring Love and Not Only But Always, is just one of millions looking forward to seeing more of Wales, where 450,000 hectares of mapped open country, a staggering 21% of the land area of Wales, will be opened up for the first time. New access in the North East and North West of England encompasses four national parks – the Yorkshire Dales, Northumbria National Park, North York Moors and the Lake District.
The CRoW Act allows the public to walk on mapped areas of mountain, moor, heath, down and common land but specifically excludes cultivated farmland and gardens while protecting privacy and allowing sensible restrictions for nature conservation and land management.
Rhys Ifans said: “One of the things people don’t appreciate about Wales is its diversity. As soon as I get there I breathe in the fresh air and just unwind. I don’t drive but one thing I can do is walk. I love walking and there’s nowhere better to do that than Wales. I would rather see the country on foot because there is too much to miss on a motorbike.”
Nick Barrett, Chief Executive of the RA said: “May 28 is going to be a very special day with some spectacular walking areas opening up for the first time. Not only will there be unprecedented access to some of Wales’ most beautiful countryside but the public can also look forward to walking in some of England’s most rugged windswept uplands and get away from it all. For many the joy of walking is about getting off the beaten track; everyone in this country now has a right to do that and I hope that people will take the opportunity to discover these beautiful areas for themselves.”
