Historic rights of way are taking walkers into the middle of fields or into the sides of buildings, leading to calls to fix the "dysfunctional" issue.

Powys' current routes were created in the 1960s, but are leaving both walkers and farmers dissatisfied.

Paula Scott and Michael Davies of Walking Newtown said the issue is part of a national problem, and that it is particularly acute in Powys.

“When the government decided to do a Definitive Map of public rights of way, people were sent out to define the routes as shown on the old maps. Unfortunately, it was done in a bit of a rush and some were sloppy,” said Ms Scott.

“Powys was particularly bad and many of these anomalies are left to us.”

Some routes lead walkers into farmland but not out of the other side, while others start in the middle of property or run through buildings. Many are obstructed or overgrown with some landowners unaware of routes running through their land.

“Since the Definitive Map cast routes in stone it is difficult now to create the few metres of path required to sort the anomalies, particularly with uncooperative landowners,” said Mr Davies.

Definitive Map Modification Orders (DMMO) can create or modify routes but these are not used often and it is left to landowners and the public to negotiate.

“Powys County Council is so understaffed and has so many problems that they have announced a moratorium on DMMOs while they sort out the ones already on the books – it will take years,” said Ms Scott.

“Despite health and well-being being talked about in government as a priority, it has been very difficult to get action on problems.”

Walking Newtown has been trying to fix anomalies, creating 30 routes locally whilst installing 62 pedestrian gates, two bridges and installing and repairing steps – but they say the scale of the problem requires intervention.

Farmers are also dissatisfied with the arrangements – with NFU Cymru backing changes.

NFU Cymru Rural Affairs Board chairman, Hedd Pugh said: “Access provision can have high costs and impacts to farm businesses, for example, dog worrying, spreading of diseases like Neospora and littering of farmland.

“NFU Cymru supports changes to the current rights of way regime which would make it simpler and less costly to divert or close public footpaths where there is a sensible case to do so.

"This could be for practical reasons, including safety and security of both the farm business and the user of the footpath, ensuring a better experience for both parties.”

A spokesperson for Powys County Council said: “The council has a published Rights of Way Improvement Plan which sets out the opportunities, challenges, resource implications and priorities for the management and enhancement of the public rights of way network and greenspace in Powys.

“The greatest challenge is the sheer size of the rights of way network in Powys. The county has over 9,250km of public rights of way, accounting for over a quarter of the network in Wales – constraints on resources means that any work to improve the rights of way network must be prioritised in accordance with the Rights of Way Improvement Plan.”

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