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Riding Information

General Information

WEST SOMERSET & EXMOOR BRIDLEWAYS aSSOCIATION AREA MAP

This map is a guide to our general area.  There may be some cross over with other bridleway associations at the boundary's. If in doubt please get in touch info@westsomersetbridleways.org.uk

INTERACTIVE MAP

You can explore a detailed map of Somerset showing all Rights of Way and Permissive Paths here.  You can create your own routes from these locations where box parking is available or join as a member and have access to pre-plotted self-guided routes and maps.

Details of the self-guided routes are available to our members via the Members Area - How to Join.

Use of restricted byways

Various organisations are trying to put together a 'test case' to upgrade some of the restricted bridleways which were downgraded in 2006. There has been a noticeable increase in vehicles flouting the law regarding bridleways recently, and riders/walkers are asked to try to get some form of identification of vehicles (registration number, photograph etc) and to ring the police, if they see anyone using these paths illegally. It must be noted that while an application is being tendered, there is NO RIGHT OF VEHICULAR USE on these paths unless the user has access rights OR landowners permission.

Most areas have a local police officer who deals with this problem, and local neighbourhood watch co-ordinators will know who to contact.  See below under Somerset Pathwatch.

Somerset Pathwatch

A Scheme set up by Avon & Somerset Constabulary, Somerset County Council, Exmoor National Park, The Crown Estate, National Trust and Quantock and Mendip A.O.N.B.s to encourage members of the public to report misuse of rights of way whilst helping to highlight who can and cannot use various paths, bridleways and tracks.


Illegal driving of off-road vehicles puts legal users’ safety at risk as well as being damaging to the countryside.

TO REPORT SUSPECTED MISUSE:

PHONE THE POLICE   0845 4567000
  or
VIA THE FORCE  at www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/pathwatch

How to record a right of way

Help save local riding routes close to you.

We have until 1 January 2026 to record our bridleways before they are removed from the OS maps.  This means that your local riding could become restricted.  

The link below contains all the information you need to check whether the routes you ride are recorded, and if they aren’t, how you can protect them beyond 2026. It takes you through marking up your local routes that aren’t currently shown on the OS map, and how to gather the evidence you need to back up the existence of your route.

Click here for more information

Horse Watch

Avon and Somerset Police work closely with the equine community through its members and volunteers to help keep them informed of any horse or rural related incidents.  This process is supported by the Horse Watch scheme.

Click here to visit avon and somerset horsewatch scheme

In Case of Emergency

Apparently, this is a standard procedure all paramedics follow at the scene of an accident when they come across your cell phone.


ICE - 'In Case of Emergency'

We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in its memory but nobody, other than  ourselves, knows which of these numbers belong to our closest family or friends.

If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn't know who to call. Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency? Hence the 'ICE' (In Case of Emergency) Campaign.

The concept of 'ICE' is catching on quickly. It is a method of contact during emergency situations. As cell(mobile)phones are carried by the majority of the population, all you need to do is store the number of a contact person or persons who should be contacted during emergency under the name 'ICE' ( In Case Of Emergency).

The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when he went to the scenes of accidents, there were always mobile phones with patients, but they didn't know which number to call.. He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name for this purpose. In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital Staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialing the number you have stored as 'ICE.'

For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3 etc.  

A great idea that will make a difference!

Let's spread the concept of ICE by storing an ICE number in our Mobile phones today!

Please forward this. It won't take too many 'forwards' before everybody will know about this .  It really could save your life, or put a loved one's mind at rest .

ICE will speak for you when you are not able to.

 

What 3 Words

Street addresses weren’t designed for 2021. They aren’t accurate enough to specify precise locations, such as building entrances, and don’t exist for parks and many rural areas.

This makes it hard to find places and prevents people from describing exactly where help is needed in an emergency.

What 3 Words divided the world into 3 metre squares and gave each square a unique combination of three words. 

We recommend you download this app to your phone.  It is not only useful when out horse riding.  It is useful for your everyday life.

What 3 Words App Download