Footpath erosion: assessment, extent and impacts with especial reference to the UK

ABSTRACT

Footpath erosion is a problem in many countries where recreational areas are impacted by large numbers of visitors. In the UK, in National Parks and on long-distance footpaths, erosion is a frequent occurrence. Park authorities spend considerable amounts of money on the maintenance and repair of paths. An assessment and measurement of change has been attempted using several methods including remote sensing, experimental trampling on selected slopes and direct measurement. Challenges remain as to where and how often to measure. This article provides examples of simple measurement approaches carried out before and after major walking and running events on long-distance footpaths.

Acknowledgments

I thank Professor Ian Foster for comments on a draft of this article and for Figure 2.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

John Boardman

John Boardman is Emeritus Professor in the Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, UK, and Research Fellow in the Department of Geography, University of the Free State, South Africa (email: [email protected]).