National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949
Part I The National Parks Commission
1 The Countryside Council for Wales.
2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3 Power of Minister to give directions to the Council.
4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Part II National Parks
4A Application of Part II of this Act in Wales.
5 National Parks.
6 General duties of Natural England in relation to National Parks.
7 Designation and variation of National Parks.
8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
9 Development plans relating to National Parks.
10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11 General powers of local planning authorities in relation to National Parks.
11A Duty of certain bodies and persons to have regard to the purposes for which National Parks are designated.
12 Provision of accommodation, meals, refreshments, camping sites and parking places.
13 Improvement of waterways for purposes of open-air recreation.
14 Acquisition by Minister of land in National Parks.
Part III Nature Conservation
15 Meaning of “nature reserve.”
15A Meaning of appropriate conservation body.
16Agreements for management of nature reserves in Scotland and Wales
17 Compulsory acquisition of land by conservation body for establishment of nature reserves.
18 Compulsory acquisition of land by conservation body for maintenance of nature reserves.
19 Declarations that areas are nature reserves.
20 Byelaws for protection of nature reserves.
21 Establishment of nature reserves by local authorities.
22 Power of drainage authorities to do work in nature reserves.
23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
26 Application of Part III to Scotland.
Part IV Public Rights of Way
Ascertainment of footpaths, bridleways and certain other highways
27–35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
39–50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Long-Distance Routes
50A Application of Part IV of this Act in Wales.
51 General provisions as to long-distance routes.
52 Approval of proposals relating to a long-distance route.
53 Ferries for purposes of long-distance routes.
54 Accommodation, meals and refreshments along long-distance routes.
55 Variation of approved proposals.
55AProposals relating to the English coastal route
55BRoute subject to erosion etc
55CAlternative routes
55DCoastal margin
55EConsideration of reports made pursuant to the coastal access duty
55FDirections under Part 1 of the CROW Act
55GFerries for the purposes of the English coastal route
55HVariation pursuant to the coastal access duty
55ITemporary diversions
55JInterpretation of sections 55A to 55J
Minor Amendments of Law relating to Rights of Way
56. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
57 Penalty for displaying on footpaths notices deterring public use.
58. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Part V Access to Open Country
59 Provision for public access to open country.
60 Rights of public where access agreement, order in force.
61 General survey of access requirements of local planning authority areas.
62 Proceedings consequent on review under last foregoing section.
63 Notification to Minister of action taken for securing public access.
64 Access agreements.
65 Access orders.
66 Effect of access agreement or order on rights and liabilities of owners.
67 Provision of means of access.
68 Power of local planning authority to enforce access.
69 Suspension of public access to avoid exceptional risk of fire.
70 Compensation for access orders.
71 Compensation to be assessed with regard to effect of first five years of access.
72 Claims for compensation and interest.
73 Payments on account in cases of special hardship.
74 Application to waterways in National Parks.
75 Exercise of powers under s. 13 as respects open country and waterways comprised in access orders.
76 Acquisition by local authorities of land for public access.
77 Acquisition by Ministers of land for public access.
78 Maps of land subject to public access.
79. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
80 Provisions as to danger areas.
81 Boundary notices.
82 Power of local planning authority to contribute to work carried out by other persons.
83 Repeal of 2 & 3 Geo. 6. c. 30.
Part VI General, Financial and Supplementary
84 General, Financial and Supplementary
General powers and duties of Commission
85 General duty of Natural England and the Natural Resources Body for Wales to advise on questions relating to natural beauty.
86 Information services to be provided by Natural England.
86A Information services to be provided by Natural Resources Body for Wales.
Areas of outstanding natural beauty
87 Designation of areas of outstanding natural beauty.
88 Functions of certain bodies in relation to areas of outstanding natural beauty.
General Powers of Local Planning Authorities
89 Planting of trees and treatment of derelict land.
90 Local authority byelaws.
91 Default powers of Secretary of State as to certain byelaws.
92 Wardens.
93, 94 General, Financial and Supplementary
Financial Provisions
95 General, Financial and Supplementary
96 General, Financial and Supplementary
97 General, Financial and Supplementary
98 General, Financial and Supplementary
99 Contributions by local authorities.
100 Payments out of moneys provided by Parliament.
Supplementary Provisions
101 Crown land.
102 General, Financial and Supplementary
103 General provisions as to acquisition of land.
104 General provisions as to appropriation and disposal of land.
105 General, Financial and Supplementary
106 Supplementary provisions as to byelaws.
106ASupplementary provisions as to byelaws made by the Natural Resources Body for Wales
107 Supplementary provisions as to compensation under ss. 20, 46 and 70.
108 Powers of entry.
109†Application of provisions of Act of 1947 as to inquiries and service of notices.
110 Regulations and orders.
111 Application to Isles of Scilly.
111A Application to the Broads Authority.
112 Epping Forest and Burnham Beeches.
113 National Trust land.
114 Interpretation.
115 Short title and extent.
SCHEDULES
FIRST SCHEDULE Provisions as to Making, Confirmation, Coming into Operation and Validity of certain Instruments
Part I
Orders designating National Parks, Public Path Orders, Diversion Orders and Extinguishment Orders, and Access Orders
1(1) Before— (a) an order designating a National Park,
2(1) If no representations or objections are duly made, or...
3As soon as may be after any such order as...
3AAn order designating a National Park shall have effect as...
4(1) The Minister may, subject to the provisions of this...
Part II. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Part III
Provisions as to validity of orders, and of certain maps and statements prepared under Part IV of this Act
8If any person desires to question the validity of an...
9(1) If any person desires to question the validity of...
10Subject to the provisions of the two last foregoing paragraphs,...
11Paragraphs 8 and 10 of this Schedule shall not apply...
Schedule 1ACoastal access reports
Introductory
1In this Schedule— (a) “ coastal access report ” means...
Advertising etc of coastal access reports
2(1) Natural England must— (a) advertise a coastal access report,...
Objections by persons with relevant interest in affected land
3(1) Any person who has a relevant interest in affected...
Referral of objections to the appointed person
4(1) Natural England must send to the Secretary of State...
Determination of admissibility of objections
5Where an objection is referred under paragraph 4(2), the appointed...
Admissible objections
6(1) Where Natural England is notified under paragraph 5(b) that...
Representations about reports
7(1) Representations about a coastal access report may be made...
8(1) Natural England must send to the Secretary of State—...
Reference of objection to the appointed person
9(1) This paragraph applies where the Secretary of State is...
Consideration of objections by appointed person
10(1) This paragraph applies where the appointed person—
Recommendations of the appointed person
11(1) Where a determination is made in respect of an...
Information and documents
12(1) The appointed person may give Natural England a notice...
Holding of local inquiries and other hearings by appointed person
13(1) Where the appointed person considers it necessary or expedient...
Supplementary provision about procedure in connection with objections
14(1) Subject to the provisions of this Schedule, the Secretary...
Preliminary consultation
15(1) The Secretary of State may, by regulations, make provision...
Determinations under section 52
16(1) Before making a determination under section 52 in respect...
Notice of determinations under section 52
17(1) Where the Secretary of State makes a determination under...
Interpretation
18In this Schedule— “ admissible objection ” is to be...
SECOND SCHEDULE General Restrictions to be observed by Persons having access to Open Country or Waterways by virtue of Part V of Act
1Subsection (1) of section sixty of this Act shall not...
2In the application of the foregoing provisions of this Schedule...

National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949

1949 c. 97

An Act to make provision for National Parks and the establishment of a National Parks Commission; to confer on the Nature Conservancy and local authorities powers for the establishment and maintenance of nature reserves; to make further provision for the recording, creation, maintenance and improvement of public paths and for securing access to open country, and to amend the law relating to rights of way; to confer further powers for preserving and enhancing natural beauty; and for matters connected with the purposes aforesaid.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I1

Act wholly in force at Royal Assent

Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C2

References to local planning authority to be construed in accordance with Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70, SIF 81:1), s. 184(1)-(5)

C6

The definition of "waterway" in this Act is applied (E.W.) (1.12.1991) by Water Industry Act 1991 (c. 56, SIF 130), ss. 157(6), 223(2)

The definition of "waterway" in this Act is applied (E.W.) (1.12.1991) by Water Resources Act 1991 (c. 57, SIF 130), ss. 210(1), 225(2), Sch. 25 para. 3(4)

C7

Act: functions transferred (E.W.) (19.9.1995) by 1995 c. 25, ss. 68(2)(a)(8), 125(2) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117, Sch. 8 para. 7)

Act: transfer of certain functions (W.) (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/672, art. 2, Sch. 1

C8

Act modified (E.W.) (19.9.1996) by 1995 c. 25, ss. 68(2)(b)(c), 125(2) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117, Sch. 8 para. 7)

C10

Act amended (1.4.1996) by S.I. 1996/593, reg. 2, Sch. 1

Act modified (1.4.2001) by 2000 c. 38, s. 37, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)(2)(c) (with s. 106)