Britain’s established footpaths are precious. An extensive network of them makes it legally possible to follow tracks, paths, lanes and bridleways across the landscape and around the towns, villages and hamlets with as much right to traverse private land as public space if those routes are designated as rights of way.

But this right can’t be taken for granted. There are time restrictions on it. The Countryside And Rights Of Way Act of 2000 makes it plain that if a pathway is not recorded by 2026, even though it might have been used prior to 1949, it could automatically be stopped up.

It was the realisation of the danger to rights of way presented by that aspect of the Act that prompted Clayton Parish Council to decide that action needed to be taken to protect the many footpaths in and around that attractive village suburb.

As part of that campaign, a sub-group of the Clayton History Group has recorded a host of these footpaths in a new book, Walking Around Clayton, which was being launched this morning at Clayton Library.

Group member Jessie Hainsworth explains in an introduction to the 18 outings included: “The footpaths used in these walks have been submitted in order to be added, if not already there, to the definitive footpaths map held by Bradford Council. The members of the group hope that by their actions the local footpaths have been preserved and that we have encouraged our readers to pick up their walking shoes and follow our footsteps.”

It’s an invitation it will be difficult for walkers to resist. Clayton is a pleasant village, and the countryside around it is open, rolling and packed with history.

Take, for example, the walk that follows the Bronte Way to a flat-topped area called The Falls (or “Table Top Mountain” to the locals). From that high vantage point can be seen the ornate chimney of Whitehead’s Fireclay Works, which was at its peak in the early part of the last century and ceased trading around 1950.

That chimney and the observatory that was built in the house alongside it is all that remains of what was once a significant Clayton business.

Not only is there a Table Top Mountain in Clayton, but there’s also a country park known as The Pyramids. Many of the world’s wonders, it seems, have their echoes in this village which seems determined not be outshone by Thornton with its Egypt, Moscow and Walls of Jericho!

The two villages are linked by Pitty Beck, which is visited on several of these walks – including the Leaventhorpe Loop, a 2½-mile walk which heads past Quarry House, once central to the stone industry on which much of Clayton’s fortunes were built.

One of the quarries remains. However, there is little visible evidence now of Leaventhorpe Mills or of a corn mill or the old Clayton Gas Works which were along this route. Still to be seen, though, is the outline of the filter beds and the foundations of the demolished pump house of Clayton’s sewage outfall works, known as The Fillers – although the book warns that there is no public right of way to them.

Clayton History Group have done a fine job in assembling this collection of short walks. They were prompted to do so by the special purpose of safeguarding the footpaths for posterity. By showcasing their village’s features and attractions they are bound to attract more walkers to the area, which must surely help their case for having these paths included on that definitive footpaths map held by the Council.