RouteLinkDescriptiveTermValue

Detailed classification of type of feature that the RouteLink represents which the non-vehicular traffic can travel along or alongside.

Value	Description
A Road	Route is along or alongside a road classified by the Department for Transport as an A Road.
Alley	Route is along or alongside a vehicular route that provides secondary access to land or properties.
B Road	Route is along or alongside a road classified by the Department for Transport as a B Road.
Cableway	Route uses a form of scheduled cableway service, for example, a Cabin Cable Car, Chair Lift or Ski Tow. As a minimum, it can be assumed that the cableway will carry pedestrians; the carriage of other users is not recorded.
Ferry Crossing	Route uses a boat or ship that provides a scheduled service to cross a body of water. As a minimum, it can be assumed that the ferry will carry pedestrians; the carriage of other users is not recorded.
Local Road	Route is along or alongside a road providing access to land or houses and is not generally intended for through traffic. No right of use for motorised vehicles should be inferred, see Usage – further information.
Marked Or Signed Route With No Physical Manifestation	A route that has sufficient signage or waymarking to make it easy to follow, but where there is not a visible continuous or near continuous path to follow on the ground.
Minor Road	Route is along a public road or alongside a public road without a Department for Transport (DfT) classification of Motorway, A or B. Where the road connects to B and higher classification roads.
No Physical Manifestation	A linear route that is not easily identifiable on the ground but where there are rights of use. For example, a legal bridleway across a field where there is no evidence along the route such as a worn strip of ground or a constructed surface of gravel or similar.
Path	Route is along a surface built for pedestrians or cyclists or created by the passage of pedestrians or cyclists over a natural surface. See SurfaceTypeValue for further information.
Private Road	Route is along or alongside a road not maintained by a Highway Authority. Note: For Private Roads where the only right to use is because the road is in Access Land, there may not be a right to use the road itself. No right of use for motorised vehicles should be inferred; see Usage – further information. The right of use by pedestrians, cyclists and horses being ridden may be restricted; see RightOfWayValue
Towpath	A towpath is a way alongside the bank of a river used for inland navigation, or canal whose original purpose was to provide access in support of inland navigation. Not populated in current release; where present, will be described as Path.
Track	Route is along an unmade way created by the passage of vehicles although no right of use by vehicles is implied. The right of use by pedestrians, cyclists and horses being ridden may be restricted; see RightOfWayValue

No physical manifestation – examples

In these examples, public rights of way exist but there is no physical disturbance on the ground. These are indicated with a descriptiveTerm value of 'No Physical Manifestation'.

First example of where there is a linear route that is not easily identifiable on the ground but where there are rights of use.

Second example of where there is a linear route that is not easily identifiable on the ground but where there are rights of use.

Routes along roads – further information

If a RouteLink feature is attributed with one of the following DescriptiveTerm values, it can be considered as being along or alongside a road depending on the user:

• A Road Minor Road

• B Road Local Road

For example, the actual route may be along a pavement (if present), a verge or the carriageway itself dependent upon the user. A cyclist may use the road carriageway, a pedestrian the pavement, and a horse rider and their horse may use the verge.

The OS DPN data does not currently include information on the presence or absence of a pavement and / or verge.

Usage – further information

The descriptiveTerm attribute indicates the nature of the route. Any right to use the RouteLink feature needs to be identified from the following attributes:

• RightOfWayValue

• NationalCycleRoute

• OtherCycleRoute

• RecreationalRoute

• AccessLand

The description of a RouteLink with a descriptiveTerm of Local Road or Private Road does not indicate that any right of use by motorised vehicles exists.