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Wadebridge
- Generally some good off road places to ride - but mostly ridden footpaths,
unrecorded routes, paths through forestry commission (which I am sure
were there before the forests!) and so subject to closure at any time.
Dobwalls/Liskeard/Duloe/Herodsfoot/St
Pinnock - low trees. dirt bikes on bridle paths. idiots driving too
fast on quiet roads. More bridleways wanted because roads are becoming
very dangerous around us due to bypass work and also safer riding. Have
to pay in forestry woods when limited off road riding this is very expensive
when more than 1 horse.
The ability to state where dirt bikes are
allowed to be and when. also a lot of off road comps that horse riders
know nothing about. Had 15 plus bikes come hairing up behind us last year
and they expected us to pull over to side of road to let them past. I
think not!!! When we can get to a bridle path most of them are of good
condition mainly because they go through forestry ground.
Newquay - Quiet lanes are becoming
increasingly busy and the surfacing is often very worn and slippery. The
cycle of maintenance seems not to have been updated to take account of
the higher usage of quiet roads for rural enterprises.
Connecting bridleways would be of great advantage
in respect of safety, enjoyment by all age groups (especially families)
and economic benefit to Cornwall.
In the Newquay area there are only 2 bridleways
of any length and these are over 2 miles apart, the cross town journey
to go from one to another is bad enough out of season, but from June to
October it is dreadful and only the bravest undertake the journey. Horse
riders during the season are not allowed on the beaches and are mostly
obliged to ride before 8 in the morning or after 7 in the evening to even
get half a chance of a pleasurable ride.
The response to maintenance requests has
been much improved in recent years, but we still seem unable to get the
hedges cut back sufficiently to allow for horse and rider to use the soft
edges of tracks. This is not confined to the Newquay area, we experience
it in many different routes around the county.
St Columb - One bridleway runs up
the side of a field which is cultivated. It is often ploughed right to
the edge. When a margin is left is usually too narrow, often the surface
is deep, soft and stoney. More bridleways required because road users
generally do not pay sufficient respect to horses and traffic travels
too fast. We do have some quiet lanes and have unobstructed access to
Mawgan Porth Beach.
Camborne, Illogan, Tehidy, Portreath,
Troon, Brea, Carn Brea, Gwennap, St Agnes, Carharrack, St Day - Traffic
is increasing, particularly heavy traffic, and it is not just the volume
of traffic but the speed. My children's riding safety is paramount, bridleways
keep you off the road, and reduce the risk of riding accidents.
We do have a good bridleway network in my
area although, linking them to provide a circular route means 50% road
work. I am fortunate to have transport and can travel to parishes with
better bridleway, multiuser trail networks. I feel that bridleways are
left until almost im-passable before they receive the maintenance required
to keep them usable.
St Stephen - More bridleways required
because keeping horses off the roads saves lives
West Penwith,Cornwall
There are a number of rights of way which
could be opened up and there are far too many stiles and not enough horse-friendly
gates! It seems people are keeping horses for pleasure more and more and
with the growing interest in endurance and planned pleasure rides, it
would be good to be able to cover longer distances without having to load
horses into trailers or lorries to reach them! We are very lucky where
we are because we can access part of the coast path and we have wide open
moors - but the bridleways do get very overgrown in the summer - I would
be happy to join a clearing team once a month or so!
Zennor - More bridleways required
for safer riding off the roads. as most of my riding is moorland it would
be nice if it was grazed down properly as most of the moorland is overgrown
with gorse.
Paul Parish - More bridleways required
as roads are getting busier and faster traffic.
When the bridleways are cleared riding is
a joy, would consider paying an annual amount to ride on farm land.
St Hilary - We ride a lot of unofficial
"bridleways" - we are always worried that we will lose them. We are in
a holiday area and tourists whip around our quiet little lanes like they
were on a motor way. We also have to contend with massive agricultural
lorries. The locals are usually very careful around us but sometimes the
big transporter don't know how to drive around horses. There are too many
types of things using our lanes. We need to be off road
Newmill, Penzance - ancient tracks
which were never designated, or wrongly designated and are no longer available.
Includes link tracks. Am a bit too aged to do track cutting but try to
help in other ways. Riding enables me to reach areas I would not be able
to walk. More bridleways required because pleasanter and safer
to ride
Breage Parish - More bridleways required
because the roads are getting busier and more dangerous. I have been
hit by a car recently going too fast around a blind bend. Horses and cars
are not a good combination we NEED to get off the roads. The lanes in
my area are banked by cornish hedges. There is nowhere for a horse to
escape to in the event of a speeding motorist. The lanes have many blind
bends on them and the speed limit is 60MPH!
St Day - Mid Cornwall
Bridleways were very active in the area but unfortunately have run out
of steam and there is generally apathy in the area because we do have
off road riding although the surfaces are generally very stony now due
to climate change We are probably quite complacent because of the amount
of off road riding even though some may be 'illegal', but the effort required
to push modification orders through is a deterrent to many people being
willing to change the 'status quo'. The County Council's rejection of
fast tracking the St Day Parish Review was a disappointment as several
horse riders completed evidence forms on their behalf and nothing has
happened.
Near Bissoe - The tracks are usually
too rough to ride a competition horse on, they get bruised soles and stumble
on the poor going. Our horses have often been spooked and upset by scrambler
motorbikes sharing the tracks. People use the tracks for fly tipping,
leaving little room to pass safely and again spooking the horses. I often
choose to ride on quiet roads to avoid these issues. More bridleways required
because a recognised and clearly marked bridleway will probably be better
maintained. This would encourage more riders to keep off the roads and
away from motorists. Although there is off road riding available
the tracks are all shared with cyclists and off roaders. It would be wonderful
and safer to have some paths marked as specifically bridleways.
Morwenstow - Use of bridleways by
4x4's and motorcyclists, still going on despite being reported numerous
times to the Parish Council, County Council and Police
More bridleways required because horses and
traffic just don't mix well. It is far safer and more sensible for the
horse and rider to be away from traffic as much as possible. Off road
riding makes for a much more enjoyable and safer ride for both horse and
rider. The increasing numbers of motorists who speed and are discourteous,
or just plain ignorant, are making the possibility of an accident happening
to you increase every year.
We are lucky in the Morwenstow area that
we have relatively quiet lanes and at least some bridleways and 'unsuitable
for motors' tracks. However, the past 2 years has seen a massive increase
in the use of these tracks and the bridleways by off-road vehicles and
motor bikes. The local Councils (Parish and District) have been allowing
the use of these to local Motor Clubs for special 'Green Lane' events;
which only exacerbates the problem and sets a precedent for all and sundry
to take their vehicles on them. The police are helpful, but seem to have
little control over the problem. Only last weekend I narrowly avoided
an accident after coming face to face with 2 motorbikes on Davids Lane
Bridleway (again!) and was met with more abuse from them. I would like
to see some of the unsuitable for motors tracks in our area converted
to proper bridleways, but as this would not prevent them being used by
vehicles, I would also like to see the use of 'Horse stiles' at the starts
(and possible ends) of the tracks, like the Forestry Commission do. If
this could be achieved on our 2 existing bridleways, I'm sure it would
help.
St just/Pendeen, West Penwith - I
ride over moorland with many tracks criss-crossing. There are no signposts
to designate them as bridleways. In my area I have enough variety of routes
to take without the need for more specifically designated as bridleway.
Most of the land around where I ride is common land, on the whole you
can ride virtually everywhere without being hindered. I have kept horses
in other areas in Cornwall and have to say that this area is, in comparison,
extremely good for riding.
Boyton, Launceston - We have a lack
of bridleways in our area. There is some riding in the Forestry - if you
pay for a permit but they discourage cantering. More bridleways required
because as we don't have any at the moment. Any which were there were
downgraded to footpaths some years back.
Boyton, - (between Launceston and Bude)
- More bridleways required to give riders a safer place to ride and
the opportunity to canter if they wish.
Penwith. Our local bridleways association
is lobbying hard for more access but many paths historically ridden are
not marked as bridleways and are being lost for use because of motorbike
activity and locked gates are being put up to stop them. This also then
stops horse riders. The area in which I live is a very popular tourist
destination and in the summer months the roads become very busy when the
population of the area almost trebles.
Tredavoe Newlyn - A bridleway cleared in
Lamorna has made a huge difference to local riders & myself.Lanes
near Tredavoe are all overgrown.
Germoe/St Hilary - Rabbit holes/Overgrown
paths/ waterlogged paths where debris is not removed from rivers/ Speeding
drivers around country lanes/ More bridleways required The ability for
riders to be able to ride on the roads quiet or otherwise is becoming
more difficult as drivers won’t slow down or back up if the lane becomes
too narrow. I also believe we should not be made to pay for this through
the TROT scheme since this is our right not a luxury... horses are expensive
enough.
Perranuthnoe, St. Hilary, Germoe, Breage
- Lost bridleways and the speed of traffic in the country lanes, the
spread of Japenese knotweed which I have reported by phone and written
twice to Cornwall C.C. There are more pleasure riders than ever before,
many bridleways have been lost through the mistakes in earlier reviews,
property owners have taken the land and some are still trying to prevent
riders passing their homes-it seems to happen particularly when new owners
move in.
Budock/Mabe parish - Although I ride
on country lanes, the speed of the traffic is an issue. I don't think
there are any 'quiet' roads any more. More bridleways required because
I don't like riding on the road. I have found that most traffic will slow
down for me but often it's with a skid as they are driving too fast anyway
around blind bends. I also have issues with the number of dogs which bark
at horses, either from their gardens or which jump out on bridleways,
- often these are farm dogs. I have had problems with youngsters galloping
at top speed along the narrow bridleways and overtaking at a gallop. Also
blocking paths with jumps they have made.
Nanstallon (Bodmin) Camel Trail –The
Camel Trail very busy with bikes, walkers, dogs off leads, runners, etc.
Some horses upset by this. Many cyclists do not use common sense when
encountering horses e.g. overtaking dangerously close to horse(s) when
other cyclists are approaching from the other direction, instead of waiting
until it is clear to overtake. Super riding around our area. We are very
lucky. Possible to ride mostly off road. Lots of horse ownership in the
area for this very reason I would think. The Camel Trail is a super link
to Forestry Commission trails and surrounding lanes.
St. Agnes - More bridleways required
because we need to get off road as much as possible and some bridleways
end up on a road or join up to a footpath
Newmill and the moors around Ding Dong
& Mulfra More bridleways required because off road riding is much
pleasanter and safer. This year much affected by the wet weather which
has kept us off the moors to a far greater extent than usual. Lots of
old tracks on the moors have grown in or become deep channels from run-off.
Within my usual range there are only three actual bridleways, two good,
one more or less passable uphill only.
Bodmin Moor - More and more gates
are being locked denighing access to moorland; parcels of land purchased
by Cornwall Wildlife Trust and do not allow horse riding prevent access
to other parcels of moorland; also more and more farmers locking gates
and preventing access to their privately owned enclosed moors. Over the
last thirty years there has been a marked hostility to horse riders on
Bodmin Moor. Also the newish A30 has divided the Moor in half due to the
difficulty of crossing over the A30 due to the speed and volume of traffic.
Without local knowledge of the type of road surface used on sections of
A.30 it would be extremely dangerous to try and cross the A.30 as the
surface might be that new slippery asphalt combined with speeding traffic.
You need to be very brave or foolhardy without prior knowledge of the
conditions. Freedom to roam and explore via a map has been lost. More
bridleways required because without more Bridleways providing access to
the countryside the only safe place to ride will be all weather schooling
areas as country lanes are becoming more and more dangerous to ride on
due to speed and lack of understanding of motorists on country lanes.
Incomers are finding that when they have bought properties on the moor
they have not got open access to the areas of riding they thought they
had or they upset the locals by trying to ride over private farmland and
create problems for others by their attitude to local landowners.
St Wenn - We are lucky around here
as our roads are quiet but others are not so fortunate. This is a very
rural area where farmers understand horses and slow down plus we have
several tracks and common areas that are widely used. However if these
were to be 'over used' there would be problems
Carn Brea, Redruth Cornwall - We are
a riding school and have been riding on Gwithian Beach for the last 23
years, we now are having access problems. A few car users, usually holiday
makers object to us being on roads We are told we have the best riding
in Cornwall, the Mineral Tramways and Great Flat Lode, which I think is
probably true.
Helston - Where I keep my horse we
are surrounded on three sides by National Trust land and the fourth has
a main road connecting to RNAS Culdrose and we do not have any access
to off road riding, although there is loads, due to National Trust blocking
access. We have already encountered this week a young girl being thrown
from her horse and left unconscious in the road, whilst the driver drove
off. How long before someone is killed before we have sensible off road
riding. Drivers don't slow down and I have encountered many hazards due
to drivers driving well above the speed limit. We have no designated bridleways
in our area open to us. More bridleways required horse riders are sensible
and keen to enjoy the sport and keep off the roads therefore providing
safe riding. If we had the support from drivers to get riders off the
road then it would please everyone.
Mawgan, Gweek and Mullion - There
has been a large increase in traffic over the past 10 years with most
households now owning more than one car. This has obviously had an impact
on the amount of traffic on the roads making it increasingly hazardous
for horse riders to use the roads. Bridleways are a safer alternative
so they should be more plentiful. Also I would think there is an increase
in the amount of people owning and/or riding horses in the last 10 years
as well. Mullion has a very good network of bridleways but to gain access
to this parish I have to ride along a busy main road. The same applies
if I want to ride on Goonhilly Downs which also has a good stretch of
bridleway but again needs to be accessed via a busy road. It would be
good if there were more access points for riders approaching from the
West side of these downs.
Trevenen Nr Helston - We have to cross
2 busy main roads with poor visibility. A crossing would be so much safer.
More bridleways required because we feel very vulnerable on the
roads now. We encounter many more instances where drivers are impatient
and, on occasion, dangerous.
Camelford - We have one very short
bridle trail near by which goes up a sten track usually washed out, through
one or two farm gates, through a farm yard with barking sheep dogs, past
sheep hurdles and flapping silage plastic, through another gate into an
over-grown spinney that is seldom free from mud even in the driest summer
and always overgrown, through another stiff gate into a hayledge field
then out to either an extremely busy road or, using a permitted path but
not a right of way, though a riding school' filed which may or may not
have horses turned out, to their drive way which leads you back to the
busy road. The once quiet lanes of Cornwall are more and more being accessed
by people using GPS and who are not familiar with country life. They seem
not to understand the concept of waiting a few seconds for a horse and
rider to reach the 'passing place' before overtaking on a single track
lane that is bounded by high hedges. The once safe-ish option of riding
these lanes is fast disapearing leaving no where to ride except in a sand
school- if you can beg, borrow, or hire one. I would gladly pay an annual
fee for right to ride through farmers' land. A scheme simialr to that
which worked in Windsor Great Park 15 years ago might work. When I rode
there, you paid a fee and received a key to gates and a bridle tag identifying
who you were.
I've added a lot to above comments. I worry
that lack of safe hacking is not helping young riders develop. My brothers
and I would go off for hours on our horses when we were young- I am not
happy letting my daughter ride out alone as it requires riding on very
busy roads to get anywhere near the open moor. As I said above, the one
bridle trail near us is probably less than a mile in length and doesn't
lead on to any where but busy roads. A year or two ago I would have said
the back lanes were quiet and pleasant to ride on but the GPS means they've
become rat runs for tourists.
Halvasso near Longdowns, Penryn, Cornwall
- Roads are getting busier - even the quiet ones are now very busy
at peak times. Generally the trimming of most bridleways in the area are
up to date albeit the council leaves it until the paths are impassible
until they do it. Most bridleways are just very muddy tracks in the winter,
some with barbed wire very close which makes it dangerous. Some paths
are completely blocked by the farmers and others have gates which are
impossible to open when on board and once you get off you can't find a
mounting area to get back on. I also understand the government are thinking
of stopping horses going on cycle tracks - disastrous decision. Would
like to see more riding routes made within Cornwall with lorry parking
facilities. Coast to coast is good but you have to turn around and come
back the same way. The councils need to start bridleway initiatives in
other parts of Cornwall. Redruth , pool etc are now well catered for.
Please can we have some in the South - Falmouth, Helston, Constantine,
Stithians etc
Gweek & Wendron More bridleways
required as even our minor roads are busy with holiday makers travelling
to attractions and they are single track roads..
Trewen / Polyphant / Alternun / Five Lanes
/ Egloskerry / Laneast Electric cattle wire strung alongside / across
the bridleway, switched on and not insulated or clearly marked.
More bridleways required as we have only
one bridleway near us, and have to ride on roads nearly all the time.
The roads are getting busier, and drivers more impatient.
Constantine Several bridleways around
us ( particularly at Mawnan Smith) are blocked up. There are few off road
routes available for riders in this area More bridleways required and
there are more and more cars now,more provisions for walkers and cyclists,and
less than ever for horses. We encounter many dangerous and inconsiderate
drivers every time we go out, and it takes the enjoyment out of riding.
Bosahan woods is an excellent place for horses,also a new bridleway has
been recently opened near Lamanva,which i'll try as soon as my horse is
fit enough! There's a lack of off road riding here though,the paths don't
link up at all which makes circular routes difficult,and several paths
have been blocked up or chained.I'd ride a lot more if i didn't have to
face traffic all the time.My horses are very good on the road,but others
aren't so lucky,and some off road tracks would make it more fun for all
of us.I'd be willing to pay an annual permit fee to have access to off
road riding on land that would otherwise be private and probably for the
most part unused.It would be worth it for the safety and the enjoyment.
Kenwyn Truro Some paths/bridleways
connect with busy roads and my horse is not confident in fast traffic.
I am unable to use these which is frustrating as the other end is a quiet
lane. Anything over 30mph is a problem therefore need to be in a speed
restriction to feel safe. More bridleways required as most roads into
Truro are busy and to get to bridleways I have to cross them or box to
somewhere like the Poldice valley or Hugus/Chacewater area. I also ride
through Idless woods occasionally but find the Zelah-Shortlanesend road
is used as a short cut and some cars travel fast. It would help if that
road was 30mph limit. I have been riding in the Tregavethan area for 37yrs
and I find that the country lanes are much busier now and I have to choose
carefully when I ride. It is impossible to ride between 8-00 and 9-00am
and between 4-00pm and 5-30pm as we are used as a short cut from Treliske
to Shortlanesend and beyond.
I do enjoy riding off-road and the bridleways
which we do have are well maintained but it would help if they linked
up to each other or were linked to quiet roads. There are one or two paths
which I use and hope that I shall be able to continue to use but are not
marked as bridleways and one actual lane through a farm which has just
had a locked gate put at one end so the generosity which I have enjoyed
all these years has stopped. I believe the farm is being sold. I just
hope that riders have not abused this privelege.
St Columb Major - One local bridleway
is waterlogged and unrideable.Another which runs along the hedgeline of
a cultivated field is invariably too narrow and poorly surfaced
Because roads are unsafe. More bridleways
required because traffic and speed is increasing. Drivers seem to have
unrealistic expectations of the courage of horses. We do have access to
local beach. Looks like the Goss Moor tracks will increase our access
to off road riding
Madron - Ding Dong - West Penwith Moors
Dispute over Bridleway/Path has taken to date 6 years for the Council
(County level) to look at meaning many of us have long road trips to reach
the moor when there is a suitable path which used to be a bridleway right
next to us. One objector is managing to hold this up for many of us.
More bridleways required because good exercise,
good for the economy as more people have horses, safer than going on the
road, ecologically more sound to use when the moors are wet and we then
don't go on them - bridleways tend to be OK in the wet - so we can ride
off road even in bad weather. our Council is extremely slow in reaching
decision and in the meantime tracks deteriorate. The Council has made
a very good job of one bridleway in our area (Kennel Lane) which has allowed
all year use. Hope for more of this !
Penwith
There are many tracks which we used to ride
which have been blocked because they are not definitive bridleways on
the map. This is happening increasingly in the area I live.
More Bridleways Wanted because the roads are too dangerous to ride on
and many riders have to use them. PAROW are doing a great job on one of
the local bridleways which the council did not keep clear.
Roche
Over the years one trail I used to ride got
blocked for footpath, a railway track got opened for riding, but then
got blocked for footpath and now is inaccessible, mainly due I think to
kids on motorbikes complaints. We also used to ride the unused clay roads
but they are blocked off now, again I believe due to motorbikes. Roche
doesn’t connect with any of the Clay Trails or Camel Trail or Saints way
which are all nearby anywhere so we have to box or ride busy roads to
get to them. There are footpaths that aren’t used by walkers that could
be opened up for horses! also the new trails on the moors where the old
A30 used to be involves riding a mile down a 60mph bendy road! If there
was traffic calming it would be better!
North Cornwall
I am very lucky living close to open moorland,
however I know many people are less fortunate. The more riders can stay
off the busy roads the safer for everyone
Many bridleways seem to be blocked mostly
by farmers not wishing people to use them
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