Route closures and diversions in England and Wales

A section of Route 1 (Water Rail Way) between Kirkstead Bridge and Stixwould station house in Lincolnshire will close from Monday 9 February until Friday 6 March (approximately four weeks).

The Environment Agency will carry out repairs to the flood embankment alongside the River Witham. A low point in the flood defence is allowing water to seep through, so the works will raise the level of the bank to address this issue.

There is no formal alternative route. Some users may be able to walk around the closure using the grass path next to the river. An on-road alternative is available via Witham Road, Stixwould Road and Station Road.

Please plan journeys in advance and follow all signage while the works are underway.

Broad Street bridge over the Erewash Canal on Route 6 in Long Eaton is closed from 6 November 2025 for replacement.

During the works, route users must follow the signed diversion via Derby Road to cross the canal. The new bridge is expected to open in August 2026.

A section of Route 64 in Skellingthorpe, Lincolnshire will be closed between Bluebell Pond and Jerusalem Road bridge from Monday 19 January to Friday 30 January.

The closure is required to allow Anglian Water to remove and replace a malfunctioning water valve located beneath the path. While it was initially planned to keep the route open at a restricted width, the valve has been found to be larger and deeper than expected, meaning a full closure is now necessary.

Route users are advised to plan journeys in advance and follow all on-site signage during the works.

A section of Route 67, known as the Nutbrook Trail, between Crompton Road and the Erewash Canal in Ilkeston will be closed from early September 2025. This closure is due to the redevelopment of the adjacent New Stanton Park.

A new, improved path is being constructed through the business park to replace the existing route. This will provide a safer and more direct connection between the Nutbrook Trail and the Erewash Canal, removing the need to cross Crompton Road.

Works to relocate the current path will take place throughout the autumn. During this time, this section of the trail will be inaccessible.

An alternative route is available via Crompton Road and Hallam Fields Road. Please plan your journey in advance and allow extra time if travelling in this area.

We apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience during these improvements.

A section of Route 7 (also known as C2C) at Hylton Bridge, between Sunderland and Washington, will be subject to a full closure from November 2025 until early February 2026 to allow construction works to improve the path.

The diversion route follows an entirely sealed surface suitable for all users and is largely traffic-free, with some quiet on-road sections. This route is indirect and is expected to add approximately 20 minutes to journey times.

Route users are advised to check the project page for updates and to plan journeys in advance.

Route 14 will close between Hamsterley Mill and Rowlands Gill from Monday 9 March 2026 until Friday 3 July 2026 while refurbishment works take place on Rowlands Gill Viaduct and Pontburn Viaduct.

Contractors will carry out structural repairs, including installing scaffolding and completing masonry works. To maintain continuity, teams will move directly from one viaduct to the next, meaning there will be no through route between Rowlands Gill and Hamsterley Mill for the duration of the works.

Signed alternative routes will be in place. Suggested options include the B6314 and B6310 via Burnopfield, or the A694 via Lintzford. Route users should plan journeys in advance and follow all signage.

A section of Route 6 (Fallowfield Loop) in Manchester will be closed from 8am on Monday 9 February until 5pm on Friday 13 February for essential maintenance works in the vicinity of Whalley Range High School.

During this period there will be no through route between Withington Road and Bethnall Drive/Avian Drive. Path access points at Athol Road and from Mauldeth Road West/Princess Road will be closed. Access points at Avian Drive and Withington Road will remain open.

The closure is required to allow major tree works to poplar trees adjacent to Whalley Range High School, following storm damage and evidence of disease and decay. An ecological survey has been completed in advance of the works.

For safety reasons, please do not use the path while it is closed and follow all signage on site. The path and access points will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so.

A section of Route 7 (Coast to Coast, C2C) from Moor Row to Cleator Moor in Cumberland will be closed from Monday 26 January 2026 until Monday 9 March 2026 (approximately six weeks) for path resurfacing and widening. The path will be upgraded to a 2.5m width, creating more space for all users and providing smoother, more comfortable journeys.

Diversions will be in place during the works, which could add time to journeys. While an alternative route is limited, the path will be kept open where possible. More information is available here.

Route users are advised to plan journeys in advance and follow all signage during this period.

The bridge over the River Calder that connects the eastern and western sections of the Padiham Greenway is temporarily closed.

This is due to concerns about the structural condition of the bridge.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. We are working with the necessary parties to identify a solution to enable us to reopen the greenway as soon as possible.  

Suggested diversions in place are:

• Diversion 1, following Park Road, Station Road, A671 (Burnley Road, Church St), Blackburn Road (A678), Bridge Street and Padiham Memorial Park. The route is suitable for all users via on-road cycling or pedestrian footways.
• Diversion 2, following Park Road, Mill Street (one-way flow), Calder Street, Shuttleworth Street, Dragon Street, Albert Street, King Street, A671 (Church Street), Blackburn Road (A678), Bridge Street, Padiham Memorial Park. This diversion involves sections of cobbled road and pavement and may not be suitable for some users.

A section of Route 21 (Worth Way) in Rowfant, West Sussex will be fully closed from mid-January 2026 for approximately 7 weeks to allow essential surfacing works to take place.

There is no alternative route available during this period. We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause.

Please follow all on-site signage and instructions from contractors to ensure safety.

For further information, please contact countryside@westsussex.gov.uk.

A section of Route 21 in Redhill, Surrey remains subject to a temporary diversion due to ongoing flooding. Please follow diversion signage around this area.

The route has been diverted for several years and, as flooding has worsened, the affected section is now underwater throughout the year. Although classed as a temporary measure, the diversion is expected to remain in place for the foreseeable future.

A number of studies have been undertaken to explore potential long-term solutions. In the meantime, route users are advised to continue following the signed diversion on the ground.

Route 23 is currently closed near Winchester due to National Highways works on junction 9 of the M3.

A diversion is currently in place between Easton Lane (eastern side) and Winnall Manor Road (western side). Please follow diversion signage. The closure is expected to be in place until early 2026. We will provide further updates as we receive them.

If you have further enquiries, please contact the Public Rights of Way team at Hampshire County Council.

The Hythe to Southampton ferry is currently suspended until further notice.

An alternative route is available here (please note that this is not an official diversion).

Alternatively bus service 9 from Southampton to Langley, Fawley or Calshot takes approximately 30 minutes.

Route 24 and Route 25 through the Longleat Estate in Wiltshire will be subject to a temporary diversion on Sunday 25 January between 7am and 2pm due to an event taking place on the estate.

The diversion will apply across the entire estate for the duration of the event. No suitable alternative route is available during this time.

Route users are asked to respect the temporary closure. Access through the Longleat Estate is granted by kind permission of the estate, and temporary closures form a condition of access.

Please plan journeys in advance and follow any signage in place.

A section of Route 27 on the Portbury Dock path, at the bridge under Royal Portbury Dock Road in North Somerset, is subject to a temporary diversion due to construction works. The diversion is in place immediately and will remain until further notice.

An alternative route is available, however it is sub-standard and requires users to make an uncontrolled crossing of a busy road.

Please take extra care and use caution when crossing the road.

The Tumble section of Route 47 is closed for the foreseeable future as a result of a major landslide. A road diversion is being put in place and will be signed as soon as possible.

The site has been fenced off and no-one should approach the site. We apologise for the inconvenience this will cause.