Welcome
Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000) (CROW) open access maps
You can find the new 2012 draft map for Wales, and an archive containing all the original map for Wales.
Select a consultation area on the map or from the list below to access the relevant maps.
Additional Information
Frequently Asked Questions and Guidance
Includes information on the mapping review 2012. The Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act was passed in 2000. The Act gives a right of access on foot for the purpose of open-air recreation. In Wales, the right given under the Act commenced in May 2005.
When the CROW Act became law CCW was given the role of defining open access land
namely mountain moor heath and down and registered common land. We started the
process by dividing Wales into 14 different consultation areas. We then
produced, through a means of consultation draft, provisional and conclusive
(definitive) maps for each area. This process was completed by March 2005 and
the Countryside and Rights of Way Act was launched in May 2005. We use the
‘definitive maps’ as the base map for the countryside access map window. They
are also used by the Ordnance Survey for their Explorer 1:25000 sheet maps. You
can find more information on open access land and other types of access land in
the Enjoying the Country chapter.