Unlike the rest of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland does not have a well developed network of public rights of way, nor a tradition of public access to land. Under the Access to the Countryside (Northern Ireland) Order 1983, the prime responsibility for securing access to the countryside rests with district councils, supported by the Environment Service of the Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland). The Environment Service can provide grant aid and advice on the creation of footpaths and long distance routes, and on the provision of access to open country.

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