BHS Ride Out UK

28/07/2025

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In-person Restoring the Record Training is coming to Nottingham.

Saturday 27 September 2025
10AM – 4PM
Leonardo Hotel, Waterfront Plaza, NG2 3BJ
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/bhsaccess/1781999

The BHS, Open Spaces Society and The Ramblers have joined forces to offer an in-person Restoring the Record training course in June 2025. It may be possible to deliver further sessions in September depending on demand.

The aim of the training event is to enthuse, enable and empower rights of way researchers to make applications for definitive map modification order to ensure routes that would be extinguished in 2031 are saved from the cut-off date. Although the government has said it intends to abandon the cut-off date, it has not yet repealed the provision; regardless of any cut-off date, the best way to protect unrecorded rights of way from obstruction, development or neglect is to research and make a DMMO application.

27/07/2025

Are you from the Shropshire Hills area and looking for somewhere different to ride 🤔

Why not take a trip over and try The Bog Short route 😁

This gentle route starts from The Bog Car Park (What3Words /// visa.pill.oxidation) has plenty of parking and turning space, although can be busy at peak times. The route circles around Manstone Rock and Devils Chair on this short loop around the Stiperstones, with virtually no road work, and all good condition horse gates. Suitable for young horses and children. Enjoy a visit to The Bog Tea Rooms to finish off. ☕

To find out about more routes in the area why not check out Katy Mellor’s Pathfinder Project 👉🏻 https://bit.ly/4mdJYjI

26/07/2025

🧑‍🏫 Upcoming Equestrian Access Training and Events – August & September 🧑‍🏫

Check out our what’s on in the next couple of months ✨

📅 Sunday 10 August, 9.30am-12.00pm – Progressing with Equestrian Access
📅 Wednesday 13 August, 5.00-6.00pm, Project 2026: Using Dobbin – the BHS 2026 research website
📅 Sunday 31 August, 10.00-11.30am - Introduction to Equestrian Access
📅 Sunday 7 September, 9.30am-12.00pm - Changes to Equestrian Access
📅 Monday 15 September, 7.00-8.00pm – Project 2026: Making a DMMO application correctly
📅 Saturday 27 September, 10.00am-4.00pm - Restoring the Record Training (IN PERSON - Nottinghamshire)📅 Tuesday 30 September, 6.00-7.30pm - Introduction to Equestrian Access

🔗 Book online at www.bhs.org.uk/accesstraining or www.tickettailor.com/events/bhsaccess
📧 Volunteers and affiliated Equestrian Access Group members – contact us to claim your training discount!

25/07/2025

A new bridleway is now open in Yorkshire - it’s not just a Bund❗

A new bridleway at Skeffing in East Yorkshire is now open. The bridleway has been almost 10 years in the planning, development, consultation, and construction phases. Utilising a flood defence system, the 7km bridleway runs along the top of the embankment, showcasing fantastic views over the flood plains and the sea. The surface of crushed stone, with flexi-pave, a porous bound-rubber surface, on the slope to aide grip. With a conveniently located car park, developments are ongoing to create linear connections with other routes. The car park is on Humber Side Road, south of the hamlet of Weeton. What3Words for the car park is ///fuels.moss.craftsman. 🐴

With thanks to the Environment Agency for dedicating a large part of the route, along with Associated British Ports, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, East Riding Local Access Forum and JBA Bentley, the construction company, for working with our Mark Corrigan, Access Field Officer for Yorkshire and our brilliant volunteers. We hope you and your horse enjoy the ride! 👏🏻

www.bhs.org.uk/access

24/07/2025

BHS Access Field Officer for the South West, Philip Hackett, is delighted to that this Multi-User Path is now open 🥳

23/07/2025

We're delighted to hear from the Open Spaces Society (OSS) that the Senedd has repealed the 2026 cut-off date for public rights of way in Wales. 🙌🏻

The Legislation (Procedure, Publication and Repeals) (Wales) Act 2025, which contains this provision, won royal assent on 10 July.

Kate Ashbrook, the OSS’s general secretary: ‘The society is proud to have been able to influence this outcome, which is of long-term benefit to the people of Wales. 😊

‘This will save countless unrecorded paths from extinction. It would have been impossible for volunteers in Wales to apply for all the missing paths by 1 January 2026, and the local authorities, which have growing backlogs of claims to process, would have been overwhelmed. 🌳

‘It is vital that we still research and apply for lost ways, as unrecorded paths are at immense risk, but at least in Wales we are not working to a deadline.

‘Now we need the Westminster government to fulfil its boxing-day promise and legislate swiftly to repeal the cut off in England,’ Kate declares.

Further to the news release from OSS, Mark Weston, BHS Director of Access, adds: "We are pleased to have lobbied for the repeal of the 2026 cut-off date in Wales, alongside OSS and others, to the benefit of all rights of way users. The work continues to ensure that work continues to record these historical routes, and we are grateful to all our volunteers and historical researchers for their immense work across Wales." 💭

With thanks to OSS for ensuring that the repeal was in the above Act.

22/07/2025

🙌🏻 What a wonderful celebration at the opening of the Melverley bridleway in Staffordshire 🙌🏻

Thanks to the generosity of the landowners, an anomaly on the map is now resolved and horse riders can enjoy a new bridleway linking with restricted byway 0305/22. 🐎

Funding was contributed from BHS Ride Out Fund, Shropshire Countryside Service, Long Mynd and District Bridleways Association (LMDBA), and the parish council. 🙏🏻

Mark Weston, BHS Director of Access, thanked all who had contributed to the bridleway, not least Paul Butter who had undertaken the groundworks. The crowd attending the event cheered as the ribbon was cut and the riders rode through! LMBDA member Helen’s cakes were enjoyed by all. 🎀🍰

For any landowners who want to make a difference by dedicating a bridleway or byway for essential off-road paths, please contact [email protected] and we will be happy to help❗

www.bhs.org.uk/access

21/07/2025

Have you completed our Introduction to Equestrian Access training and caught the access bug? Why not give Progressing with Equestrian Access a go ❗

🗓️ Sunday 10 August 2025
⏰ 9:30am – 12pm
📍 Hosted online via Microsoft Teams
🎫 https://www.tickettailor.com/events/bhsaccess/958053

Knowing the law about equestrian use of minor highways (byways, bridleways and footpaths) is important for all who ride or drive horses off-road, helping you to be sure of your rights and responsibilities, to build your confidence.

A sequel to the Introduction course, this event goes further into practical application using case studies, escalating problems (self-help, s130A, s56) and increasing inclusion of equestrians in on and off-road schemes. Prior attendance on the Introduction course is required.

20/07/2025

Have you received your Rideathon bundle❓

We would love to see pictures of you and your Rideathon companion with your certificate and rosette. 📸

If you haven’t received your certificate and rosette, please email [email protected] with your full name and full postal address

19/07/2025

💪🏻 It’s never too late to try something new 💪🏻

Following yesterday’s post, we had a very special lady join us on the Needwood Estate ROUK ride.

Lois is 71 years young and only stated riding in her 60’s, here is her story about how she fell in love being in the saddle and what she thought about our wonderful, guided ride.

“I am 71 now and took up riding when I was 64, after having both hips resurfaced in my early 50's. I always kept fit and ski for at least 3 weeks every winter and attend Pilates classes twice a week. ⛷️

A friend of mine had horses and I used to watch her ride and see the horses and thought I should try it, I had a riding lesson every week and loved it, then decided I would like a pony of my own as I was retired and had plenty of time. 🙂

Tinker came from Wales when he was 5 during the gap between the 2 lockdowns for Covid. We are based in Mapperley Village and ride in Shipley Park most days,
we do a lot of the fun rides and go on holiday together as there is overnight sleeping in my horsebox, we have also we have done glamping in Norfolk and self-catering trips. 🐴

When I saw the BHS ride at Needwood I jumped at the chance to go.
It was a guided ride for a small group on land I would not otherwise have been able to see or ride on, It was beyond my expectations. Katie, the ride leader and her family and friends, all volunteers, could not do enough to help me as a solo traveller and rider. 🚛

Access Field Officer, for East and West Midlands, Wendy Bannerman, and BHS Staff were great too and I was made very welcome. The ride was as described on the BHS site and the terrain and scenery were fabulous. It was a real treat to see the estate and meet such a lovely crowd of people.” 👨🏻‍👩🏼‍👧🏻‍👦🏼

We love to hear your feedback abour ROUK rides, and your journey with horses. To find an event near you, visit www.bhs.org.uk/rideoutuk

18/07/2025

🐴 Another great ROUK event 🐴

On Saturday 5 July, The Needwood Estate guided ride in Staffordshire was a great success. 🙌🏻

Eight riders enjoyed a unique experience of riding through the beautiful ancient woodland of the Needwood Forest, where there is normally no public access, thanks to the kind permission of the Duchy of Lancaster and with special thanks to the gamekeeper who was an incredible help in planning the route and providing access. 🙏🏻

Many thanks to Eland Lodge who kindly provided the parking for the event. Our volunteer stewards helped with road crossings, ride leaders did a brilliant job of guiding the group, and all of the horses and ponies were superstars. 🌟

We had a varied group including two ponies aged 26 and 27 and riders from their 20's to their 70's - just fabulous! Thanks to the riders for their support of our Ride Out campaign! Look out for our future rides in your area. 🥳

17/07/2025

Don't forget that Sunday at midnight is when submissions for the APPG inquiry closes 🙂

Do you want better and safer hacking❓ Do you want to get off the roads❓

Here’s your chance to tell the government what our problems are – ideas below.
The new All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPG) for Outdoor Recreation and Access to Nature is calling for written evidence.

All-Party Parliamentary Groups are informal cross-party groups that have no official status within Parliament. They are run by and for Members of the Commons and Lords, though many choose to involve individuals and organisations from outside Parliament in their administration and activities. Further information can be found via the following link 👉🏻 https://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/members/apg/

It is launching an inquiry to examine ideas for changes in policy and legislation that would enable more people to access green and blue spaces.

It is hoped the inquiry will inform the direction the Government takes as it considers its manifesto commitment to expand access to nature.

The call for evidence is open until midnight on the 20 July.

A link to the call for written evidence can be found here 👉🏻 https://forms.paddleuk.org.uk/live/form/APPGforOutdoorRecreationandAccesstoNatureCallforEv/formperma/k5Ver8IwFueolTJeUiFAAHzUe15qFcngHHsXRBHPl3g

The APPG is interested in receiving ideas for new legislation and / or policy proposals which would:

1. Enable more people to make use of existing access opportunities (including open access and public rights of way).
2. Improve access to landscapes (woodlands, riversides, water bodies, downland) and the safeguards needed for the environment and land management.
3. Enable more people to undertake a broader range of responsible outdoor activities and the safeguards needed for the environment and land management.
4. Ensure green and blue spaces are more evenly distributed and better connected.
5. Ensure access to nature is better used to support health and wellbeing outcomes.
6. Increase access to sites of public or historic interest
7. Enable more people, particularly children, young people and underrepresented groups, to regularly experience and engage with green and blue spaces.
All of the information related to the inquiry and how the evidence will be used can be found via the link 👉🏻 https://forms.paddleuk.org.uk/live/form/APPGforOutdoorRecreationandAccesstoNatureCallforEv/formperma/k5Ver8IwFueolTJeUiFAAHzUe15qFcngHHsXRBHPl3g

💡 Ideas to put forward:
• There are many footpaths that currently could accommodate use by equestrians if their designation was changed to bridleway status, if you have any such examples please include these in your submission.
• All access land could be made accessible to equestrians if the general restrictions in Schedule 2 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 were amended to allow this, if you have any examples of access land that you would like to use please include these in your submission.
• All too often access to woodlands is only provided for walkers and/or cyclists if this is the case in respect of woodlands near you give examples in your submission.
• Active travel routes all too often exclude equestrians if there are routes from which you have been excluded please give examples in your submission.
• If you know of any children or younger riders/carriage drivers please do encourage them to submit evidence setting out what further access they would like to have to ensure that they can ride out or carriage drive in a safer environment to access nature.

📷 Bev Corrigan