Introduction

A key Ramblers charitable objective is to promote the provision and protection of footpaths and other public rights of way. As walkers and volunteers, we can get involved with this in many different ways.

Volunteer Footpath Officers and Wardens take responsibility for monitoring rights of way in their parishes, and following up any legal issues arising in their patch. See Footpath Volunteers.

All walkers can help by reporting footpath problems. Please take the trouble to report what you find and so help us maintain and improve the condition of the network. Walkers cover more miles of path than any employed council officer can manage to survey. Our reports are welcomed because they help to make the paths better for everyone. See Footpath Problems.

The “Don’t Lose Your Way” project is searching archives for unrecorded historic routes. There was a deadline for recording historic routes of 1/1/2026, but this has recently been extended to 1/1/31. There are active groups working on this in Hertfordshire, identifying routes that should be added to the Definitive Map of Rights of Way maintained by the Highway Authorities. See Don't Lose Your Way.

Local Authorities are responsible for managing and maintaining the rights of way network.  Most of the responsibilities lie with the Highway Authorities but Planning Authorities also have powers to modify the network in some circumstances. See RoW in Herts, RoW in London Boroughs and using the Planning System.

Footpath Working Parties: This Ramblers Area does not itself organise working parties to maintain footpaths. However, many of our members are involved with groups such as the Chilterns Society and the St Albans Footpath Society  who do go out to work on the footpaths in their patch.  Others work directly with Hertfordshire County Council’s Countryside Management Service (CMS) who organise volunteer groups.  More information about the CMS is on our Rights of Way in Hertfordshire page. Further details may be found on their websites – see Links page.