Editing Footpath (section)

===Definitive path maps===
Footpaths and other rights of way in England and Wales are shown on [[definitive map]]s. A definitive map is a record of public [[Right-of-way (transportation)|rights of way]] in England and Wales. In law it is the definitive record of where a right of way is located. The highway authority (normally the [[county council]], or unitary authority in areas with a one-tier system) has a statutory duty to maintain a definitive map, though in national parks the [[national park authority]] usually maintains the map. The [[Inner London]] boroughs are exempt from the statutory duty though they have the powers to maintain a map: currently none does so.<ref>See: [http://www.ramblers.org.uk/footpaths/law/definitivemap.html Public Paths and the Definitive Map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918042427/http://www.ramblers.org.uk/footpaths/law/definitivemap.html |date=2008-09-18 }} from the [[Ramblers Association]] and 
[http://www.planning-inspectorate.gov.uk/pins/appeals/rights_of_way/rights_way.htm Definitive Map Orders: Consistency Guidelines] from the [[Planning Inspectorate]].</ref>

Currently, the number of footpaths in the UK totals 427,301 (around 81% of all rights of way) with a net combined route length of 105,125 miles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roughton |first=Rafe |title=Rights of Way Statistics |date=7 February 2024 |url=https://rightsofway.uk/rights-of-way-statistics/ |access-date=2024-02-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Statistics {{!}} UK Bridleway Finder |url=https://bridleways.uk/statistics |access-date=2024-04-21 |website=bridleways.uk |language=en}}</ref>

In Scotland different legislation applies and there is no legally recognised record of rights of way. However, there is a National Catalogue of Rights of Way (CROW), compiled by the Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society (Scotways), in partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage, and the help of local authorities.<ref name="Rights of way in Scotland">{{cite web|url=http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/access/sr-sprow.pdf|title=Rights of way in Scotland|publisher=Snh.org.uk|access-date=2015-04-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726005816/http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/access/sr-sprow.pdf|archive-date=2015-07-26|url-status=dead}}</ref>