footpath

A route for the use of pedestrians only. Most footpaths are short cuts created before the widespread use of cars. In rural areas footpaths were once essential and many became public rights of way.

In the UK, the current popularity of walking as a pastime has revived their use, and English county councils have been responsible since 1968 for signposting public footpaths. New recreational footpaths have been created, and in recent years rights of way have been linked to form long-distance paths such as the Pennine Way (opened 1965) and the South Downs Way.