The Byways and Bridleways Trust is a charitable trust formed in 1979 to protect Britain's network of ancient minor highways, more usually known as byways and bridleways. The Trustees were radical in their approach: for the first time an organisation would seek to protect for the public the old roads themselves, rather than fight for the special rights of any group of users. While 'user organisations' like the British Horse Society, Trail Riders Fellowship and Ramblers Association approach rights of way from the perspective of the horse rider, trail rider, or walker, the Byways and Bridleways Trust deals with access law, policy and practice, and seeks to keep minor highways open for all reasonable users.
If the RA, BHS, TRF, CTC, etc., are likened to narrow boat users' clubs, then the Byways and Bridleways Trust is a canal preservation society.

Nobody can 'join' the Trust, or become a 'member' in the way of joining a conventional membership organisation. This was a decision taken by the original Trustees as a way of establishing and maintaining the Trust's purpose and independence; no 'faction' is able to influence Trust policy, or stage a take-over. Because of this the Trust does not claim to represent rights of way users' interests in any mandated or democratic way. But this independence allows the Trust the ability to observe and participate in the minor highway management processes in a detached and reasonably objective way. The Trust's only 'party line' is that byways and bridleways are a very good thing; they should be cherished through sufficient and sensitive use and repair, for this generation and those to follow.

The Trustees' original method of operation was threefold: publication of the Trust's house journal Byway & Bridleway; hosting training events; and participating in policy forums at national level. Byway & Bridleway has continued as the mainstay of the Trust's operation.

  
  Now in its 30th year, B&B expanded to 10 issues a year of varying sizes, but since 2005 has stabilised to 6 issues of (nominally) 12 pages each, containing an eclectic mix of news, views, law reports, history, inspectors' decision letter reports, and the miscellanea that makes Britain's ancient highways such a fascinating and emotive subject.
  Any person or organisation can subscribe to Byway & Bridleway. Current subscribers range from highway authorities and government agencies to local clubs and individuals. By subscribing you do not automatically 'sign up' to the ethos of the Byways and Bridleways Trust: You are simply acquiring the information in Byway & Bridleway. Many subscribers are supporters of the Trust's aims, and by arrangement the Trust can, where appropriate, represent their views in consultations and forums.
  In over two decades of publication, Byway & Bridleway has become a valuable reference resource on rights of way law and practice. There is now a comprehensive index of all the case reports and similar matters, amounting to many hundreds of entries. To make this material more easily available, together with old seminar papers and miscellaneous reports, the Trust has now released a CD-ROM Reports & Materials Database containing a full set of back copies of B&B (word-searchable in Acrobat Reader since 1999) plus many other reports, references, seminar papers, etc. If we have it, if it is useful, and if there are no copyright constraints, it goes in.
  The Byways & Bridleways Trust Equestrian Access Plan 2006 - click here.
  Byway and bridleway Subscription details
  The Byways & Bridleways Trust - who are the Trustees?
   Do you have skills that would enhance the work of the Trust? We are looking to expand the work of the Byways & Bridleways Trust and if you have the time, the enthusiasm and the knowledge, then we would be pleased to hear from you. Click here for more information. Or, here to read the B&B leader where this issues was first raised.