The bridleway is pre 1959 and as such I understand the surface is owned by and the responsibility of the local authority. There are different landowners on each side of the bridleway and in the absence of contrary evidence we assume they own the subsoil co-extensive with their property.

Definitive maps are a legal record of public rights of way in 4 categories: footpaths; bridleways; restricted byways; byways open to all traffic; Keep public rights of way clear of...

Bridleways are primarily designed to benefit horse riders although in practice they are used more frequently by hikers and cyclists, who are also allowed by law to use them. Public bridleways are shown as long green dashes on Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps, or long pink dashes on 1:50,000 maps.

A public right of way is a right by which the public can pass along linear routes over land at all times. Although the land may be owned by a private individual, the public have a legal right across that land along a specific route.