Footpaths - Which Included and How shown on Maps

Which Footpaths are Included on Maps?

The aim is to show all the "best" footpaths.  This includes all those likely to be attractive for a leisure walk, plus any which are good to link these together, or back to the nearest bus route.  At this point in time I have almost certainly left off many which deserve including, but intend adding these as I find them, or as readers tell me about them.
 

Footpath Symbols

The representation on the maps uses the symbols shown on the right.
 

Notes on Footpath Symbols:

Main Footpaths include major routes, main routes, main paths in a park or similar. Most are visible on the ground and often well made, and some are signed, BUT some may in part be less visible (e.g. crossing open grass) or less well kept (covered in leaves or even muddy!)

Other "Green" Footpaths include other visible routes, alternative routes across open grass, etc.  Not all are shown - the main criteria is to help people using main paths to navigate, or plan alternate routes to suit their needs!
 

Further Explanation

The above statement appears elsewhere with the "Key to Footpath Symbols" diagram.  For further explanation I offer the following:

1.  The choice of  if to show a path as 'Main Footpath' or 'Other "Green" Footpath' is often a close run decision.  Aspects considered include:

• The locality.  In some areas the main footpaths are those surfaced and signed, so lesser paths are shown as 'Other'.  In less organised locations the main footpath may just be the best route, with 'Other' being a selection of the alternate options for the intrepid explorer.
• In a grassy public open space, the 'Other' category is used to illustrate a possible route across the grass.  Where relevant, these have been drawn to use gaps in hedges etc., but is mainly shown to suggest the scope for a possible route.

2.  Most paths are drawn the same width as the widest shown on the diagram above in order to show clearly on screen or A4 print, but are reduced to ¾  or ½ (as also shown on the diagram above) of this width in areas where finer detail is desirable.

3.  Some routes which are described in detail elsewhere are "highlighted" with (e.g.) Yellow or Orange backgrounds.

4.  The position of paths is shown as follows:

• When the path is shown on the base map, this is followed.
• All other paths are shown where they appear to be on the ground relative to features shown on the base map.
• Where paths meet bridges, tunnels or roads the scale immediately around the junction is sometimes exaggerated in order to clearly show the layout.
• Where paths are shown following roads, the path is usually shown running immediately beside the road (as though it is a pavement to an exaggerated scale).  This also has the advantage of not covering up the name of the road.  The path shown is on the side of the road I felt "best" to use, or if equally good, chosen at random.
• Where the path is separated from the road by a wide grass verge, this is indicated by exaggerating the gap between the edge of the road and the edge of the path.

5.  The Car Park indication is only added where I believe a public car parking area exists (either explicitly due to being signed, or by normal sensible practice!), but is not shown on the base maps.  I have not shown areas where road-side parking is sensibly possible, but which may not be encouraged by local residents.
 

Length of Footpaths Shown

The total length of footpaths marked on the Maps within the Coventry City boundary is estimated (22-Jun-2002) to be 286 kilometres, analysed as follows:

Map	Main Footpaths	Other "Green" Footpaths	Footpaths on Roads	total
11	4.0	4.1	0.2	8.3 km
12	7.6	1.4	1.7	10.7 km
13	6.9	4.4	1.8	13.1 km
21	10.1	16.3	3.8	30.2 km
22	10.7	10.8	6.6	28.1 km
23	17.7	11.3	2.4	31.4 km
31	11.4	18.3	7.0	36.7 km
32	17.3	10.2	18.0	45.5 km
33	18.3	7.5	3.9	29.7 km
41	5.4	2.6	1.7	9.7 km
42	9.2	10.8	6.8	26.8 km
43	6.4	7.8	1.2	15.4 km
Totals km	125	106	55	286 km
Totals miles	78	66	34	177  miles
TOTALS	144			144 miles

Rights of Way

I have not distinguished between the various official status of any footpath shown on the map.

In practice many shown are one of the following:

• Public Right of Way
• Permitted Footpath
• part of a Public Open Space
• none of above, but a way which is currently in general use by the public

I have omitted any paths visible on the ground, but which I am aware are in fact private.  If I have included any in error, please let me know and I will correct the presentation.  E-mail me at webmaster@coventry-walks.org.uk .