United Kingdom Tagging Guidelines

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In relation to rights of ways, most of this page specifically refers to the legalities of England and Wales, and not other parts of the UK. Access rights in Scotland are very different, so much of this does not apply here. A separate section should be created outlining the specific legalities of rights of way in different areas of the UK.

Obtaining the data

As well as recording your track, make sure you mark points of interest such as hill summits, farms, pubs or churches as waypoints, as these can be contributed to OSM.

Unless you know the area or have a good memory, you might forget things like road names, path types and surfaces, or the point at which a footpath becomes a bridleway. It's worth recording this in some way, for example marking a waypoint with the information as the waypoint name, or taking a photo/noting the information down in a notebook along with a latitude/longitude reading from your GPS.

Specifics on tagging different ways

Please see United Kingdom Tagging Guidelines#Rights of way UK classic vs global tagging schemes for further explanation and comparison of the two currently used schemes.

UK roads

Type	Tag
Motorway	`highway=motorway` `highway=motorway_link`
A roads with primary status (signed green)	`highway=trunk` `highway=trunk_link`
A roads	`highway=primary` `highway=primary_link`
B roads	`highway=secondary`
Busy unclassified through roads (Generally used only on roads wide enough to allow two cars to pass safely where adequate road markings are in place)	`highway=tertiary`
Country lanes	`highway=unclassified`
Residential roads (Used only on roads that have no other function other than for residential purposes)	`highway=residential`
Service roads (driveways, carpark entrance roads, private roads, bus-only roads, etc). Please remember `access=` and `service=` where applicable	`highway=service`
Private roads	`highway=*` `access=private`

Pedestrian access

Type	Classic UK tagging style	Alternative global tagging style
	`highway=footway`; `surface=paved`;	`highway=path`; `foot=designated`; `surface=paved`

Cycle paths

In the UK, almost all cycleways permit pedestrian usage. You therefore do not need to add a foot=* access tag unless pedestrian use is expressly forbidden.

Type	Classic UK tagging style	Alternative global tagging style
Shared cycle/pedestrian path (IMAGE PENDING)	`highway=cycleway`	`highway=path`; `foot=designated`;`bicycle=designated`; `surface=paved`
Segregated cycle/pedestrian path (IMAGE PENDING)	`highway=cycleway`; `segregated=yes`	`highway=path`; `foot=designated`; `cycleway=lane`; (implies `bicycle=designated`) `surface=paved`
Cycle only path (IMAGE PENDING)	`highway=cycleway`; `foot=no`	`highway=path`; `bicycle=designated`; `foot=no`; `surface=paved`

Please note: when using highway=cycleway, omitting the surface=* tag implies it is paved and when using highway=path, omitting the surface=* tag implies it is unpaved.

See also: Cycle routes, Bicycle, cycleway=*.

Rights of way in England and Wales

Public footpath

Tag presets for public footpaths are available in the JOSM editor: see #JOSM presets below.

Description	Classic UK tagging style	Alternative global tagging style
The most common countryside right of way is the public footpath, marked typically by wooden pointers, yellow waymark arrows attached to posts, or signposts bearing yellow arrows. Access is restricted to pedestrians (and the owner or occupier of the land). Usually, the words 'Public Footpath' appear on the guidepost or on the surround of the waymark arrow.	`highway=footway`; `designation=public_footpath`; `surface=*`	`highway=path` (or `highway=track` or `highway=service`); `foot=designated`; `designation=public_footpath` `surface=*`
Confusingly, some yellow arrows that carry the name or acronym for a path do not normally imply a public right of way. Arrows of any colour (usually yellow in practice for visibility reasons) that carry an initial letter, acronym or name for a local, regional or long-distance route do not imply anything about legal status; they are independent of the standard convention for waymarking; however, they may be useful in building a relation of type=route - in which case the name or reference number of the route should be added to the relation rather than to the individual way.
Footpath signs may be different in urban areas

Permissive footpath

Tag presets for permissive footpaths are available in the JOSM editor: see #JOSM presets below.

Description	Classic UK tagging style	Alternative global tagging style
A footpath which is not an official right of way, but to which the landowner has granted access to pedestrians at his/her discretion. Technically this access can be withdrawn at any time. Often found on National Trust or Forestry Commission land, though in these cases the access is unlikely to be withdrawn. These are often waymarked with white arrows - but beware of weathered yellow arrows that appear white!	`highway=footway`; `foot=permissive`; `surface=*`	`highway=path`; `foot=permissive`; `surface=*`

Public bridleway

Tag presets for public bridleways are available in the JOSM editor: see #JOSM presets below.

Description	Classic UK tagging style	Alternative global tagging style
Public bridleways have greater access rights than footpaths, there is access for pedestrians and horse riders - and (by the Countryside Act of 1968) cyclists as well where not forbidden by "orders made by a local authority", or by "any bye-laws". They are typically waymarked by blue arrows.	`highway=bridleway` (or `highway=track` or `highway=service`); `designation=public_bridleway`; `surface=` (or `tracktype=`)	`highway=path` (or `highway=track` or `highway=service`); `designation=public_bridleway`; `foot=designated`; `horse=designated`; `bicycle=designated` `surface=` (or `tracktype=`)

Permissive bridleway

Tag presets for permissive bridleways are available in the JOSM editor: see #JOSM presets below.

Description	Classic UK tagging style	Alternative global tagging style
A permissive bridleway	`highway=bridleway` (or `highway=track` or `highway=service`); `surface=` (or `tracktype=`)	`highway=path` (or `highway=track` or `highway=service`); `foot=permissive`; `horse=permissive`; `bicycle=permissive`; `surface=` (or `tracktype=`)

Byway

Tag presets for byways open to all traffic are available in the JOSM editor: see #JOSM presets below.

Description	Classic UK tagging style	Alternative global tagging style
Known formally as Byway Open To All Traffic (BOAT), byways are public highways maintained to a lesser standard than normal roads. They can range from perfect tarmac surfaces to rough impassable tracks, but are typically what you might expect from a rough farm track. Whilst some are drivable in a standard vehicle, a 4x4 is usually recommended if you are not sure what to expect ahead especially in wet weather. Some are no longer passable by any vehicle. Some byways are further restricted in the traffic permitted. They are usually waymarked by red arrows and should be tagged as:	`highway=bridleway` (or `highway=track` or `highway=service`) `designation=byway_open_to_all_traffic`; `surface=` (or `tracktype=`)	`highway=path` OR `highway=track` OR `highway=service` `foot=designated`; `horse=designated`; `bicycle=designated`; `motorcar=yes`; `surface=*` `designation=byway_open_to_all_traffic`

Restricted byway

Tag presets for restricted byways are available in the JOSM editor: see #JOSM presets below.

Description	Classic UK tagging style	Alternative global tagging style
Like bridleways but also allow vehicular traffic that is not mechanically propelled. This includes horse-drawn carriages and pedal bicycles. Motor cars, motor bicycles, quad bikes, motorised scooters, etc. are not permitted. The "Restricted Byway" replaces the former category of "Road used as a Public Path", which no longer exists. They are typically waymarked by plum-coloured arrows and should be tagged as:	`highway=bridleway` (or `highway=track` or `highway=service`); `designation=restricted_byway`; `surface=` (or `tracktype=`)	`highway=path`; `foot=designated`; `horse=designated`; `bicycle=designated`; `motorcar=no`; `designation=restricted_byway`

Unknown-status footways

See United_Kingdom_Tagging_Guidelines#Pedestrian_access

This can be upgraded to add additional designation=* or access=* tags if you later find definite evidence that there is a right of way or not.

Rights of way with no visible path

Rights of way should be marked even where no visible path can be seen on the ground (providing that there is some indication, sign post or other, of there in fact being a right of way). In such cases a surface tag is highly recommended.

Areas with Open Access Land but no specific rights of way

Although the New Forest was an early example, the CROW Act means that there is now a lot of "access land" all over England and Wales - especially in upland areas and on common land. There is open access on foot to the entire area (except on designated dates) via specified access points. There may or may not also be 'normal' public rights of way across the land. Under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000) (aka the CROW Act) this land is known as "Open Access Land". The landowner does have available certain legal restrictions on access - although these tend to be minor, pragmatic and temporary - so access is not quite as free as the "everyman's right" in, for example, Nordic legislation (allemannsrätt, jokamiehenoikeus, etc.). Access in Scotland, however, is more like the Nordic model than the English. From an OSM point of view it would seem to make sense to map the boundaries of access land as boundaries and to map the specified access points to the area as nodes. Mikh43 08:43, 15 September 2009 (UTC)

JOSM presets

Presets in JOSM's format are available for path-like rights of way in England and Wales which have a definite, verifiable legal status. They can be added via JOSM's Tagging Presets preferences page, or downloaded as a Zipped bundle or in XML format from the JOSM wiki[1] for use in other apps.

These presets use a hybrid approach which combines the two tagging styles referred to above. In short they allow you to use richer, classic-style highway=* tags, apply a full set of global-style access=* tags, and set the required designation=* value. See the explanation and rationale on the Talk page for full details.

Rights of way summary

Highway tag

Tag	Description	Implies Surface
`highway=footway`	A path principally intended for pedestrian usage.	`surface=unpaved`
`highway=cycleway`	A path intended equally for pedestrian and cycle usage.	`surface=paved`
`highway=bridleway`	A path of rural character available for pedestrian, equestrian and (subject to surface) cycle usage.	`surface=unpaved`
`highway=path`	A generic narrow path that is used in conjunction with access tags and a `designation=*` tag where applicable.	`surface=unpaved`
`highway=track`	Larger than a path; generally big enough to fit a vehicle down. Use in conjunction with `tracktype=*`.	`surface=unpaved`
`highway=service`	Not an unpaved track but also not a publicly maintained road. Please remember access=* and service=* where applicable	`surface=paved`

Access tags

See access for more information.

England and Wales

Name	Description	Highway tag	Designation tag	Access tags (for alternate highway=path tagging)
Footpath	Rights of way for walkers only. Pushchairs and wheelchairs are allowed but the ground generally may not be suitable so please include `surface=paved` where applicable as no surface tag implies it is unpaved. Mostly marked with Yellow arrows.	`highway=footway`	`designation=public_footpath`	`foot=designated`
Bridleway	Access for walkers, cyclists and horseriders. Cyclists must give way to walkers and horseriders. Generally marked with Blue arrows.	`highway=bridleway`	`designation=public_bridleway`	`foot=designated` `horse=designated` `bicycle=designated`
Byway	Open to all traffic. Because they are usually not maintained to as high a standard as public roads they are usually intended for cyclists and horseriders. Sometimes marked with Red arrows.	`highway=bridleway` OR `highway=track` OR `highway=service`	`designation=byway_open_to_all_traffic`	`foot=designated` `horse=designated` `bicycle=designated` `motorcar=yes`
Restricted Byway	Open to walkers, cyclists, horseriders and horse drawn vehicles. Sometimes marked with Purple arrows.	`highway=bridleway` OR `highway=track` OR `highway=service`	`designation=restricted_byway`	`foot=designated` `horse=designated` `bicycle=designated` `motorcar=no`

Rights of way UK classic vs global tagging schemes

There are currently two schemes in use for UK public rights of way. It is of personal preference as to which makes the most sense you and which you should use. Each have their pros and cons.

UK classic

The original method uses so-called duck tagging: if a path is used as a footway and looks like a footway, you tag it as highway=footway. (Similarly highway=cycleway, highway=bridleway and so on). Access rights are inferred from the tag (and country), and in certain cases additional specific access tags are added as required.

To record the legal status of a path, many mappers add designation=public_footpath, designation=public_bridleway, or similar.

Pros:

Fewer tags are needed.
Is the original method so already prevalent.

Cons:

Not as flexible as the global system for unambiguously encompassing all possible combinations of rights and physicality.

Global system

An alternative scheme uses granular tags added to a basic highway=path tag.

Pros:

Access rights are defined and unambiguous and are separate from the physical attributes.

Cons:

More tags are usually required.

Deprecated tags

highway=byway deprecated as of 2010-08.

Reference: List of deprecated features.

Copyright issues (VERY IMPORTANT!)

It is vital that the OSM database does not infringe the copyright of other organisations. In view of this, you must follow these guidelines:

Do not copy the name of any feature (e.g., a farm name or a hill name) from an Ordnance Survey or other copyrighted map, unless it's an out-of-copyright OS map (published 1958 or earlier) or from Ordnance Survey Opendata. You must use your own observations or prior knowledge.
Do not copy the type of path (e.g., footpath, bridleway etc) from an OS or other copyrighted map. Again this is probably violating copyright. Again, you must use your own observations or prior knowledge. If you are not sure, tag the path with the minimum permissions you are sure of. For instance, if a track is marked as bridleway at one end but footpath at another (these sorts of things do happen!) tag as a public footpath. If the path is not waymarked at all, yet there is evidence of public use, tag as a permissive footpath. It is better to tag incorrectly than to violate copyright!
Public rights of way are officially recorded by local authorities in two documents, the definitive map and definitive statement. The maps are typically based on OS mapping, so subject to their IP rights. Ordnance Survey have now confirmed that they don't claim any IP rights in the descriptive statements^[1]. However, both the maps and statements will contain the IP of the local authority who maintain them, so permission would still be needed from them before they can be used in OSM.

It's well worth reading the Copyright Easter Eggs section before contributing data.

References

↑ Ordnance Survey have now confirmed that they don't claim any IP rights in the descriptive statements