A bit of ribaldry at the expense of the DM and our access network, an easy target as there are many anomalies to be thought over, rather than merely dismissed as the follies of bureaucracy. Why does a PRoW lead you over cliff, the ultimate example those, why try to defend their land against 'sharing the countryside' might use to deflect thoughtful analysis into the DM, which is a static and incomplete record of rights the public should have to their countryside?
What is the difference please between a pubkic right of way, and a public footpath. Tyia
There is an addition to Ninthace's accurate summary, which is so played down in discussion. The Permissive Way; few in reality and could be many if those occupiers of our countryside where to reverse a policy set in 1066 thinking.
Does a PRoW lead us Lemming like over a cliff, because of the slippage of a sheet of tracing paper over a base map in the OS drawing office, bit like the footpath that goes the wrong side of a hedge, when it appears to lead to a road. This example, of which there are number can have a logical explanation if the time and terrain are bought in the itellectual arena, something the landowner is keen or unable to bring to the fore.
The 19th century surveyors were remarkably accurate in their cartography, they recorded terrain so that our artillery could shoot over hills to inflict damage on a French army that looked likely to invade this country, when we were ill prepare to defend it on land. In doing so they recorded how a largely pedestrian population achieved both social and economic objectives at a time this country was one of the world's great achievers.
Many of the lessons we should be learning about access, both visitor and occupier are recorded on the OS map editions. I think the visitor is blind to them and the occupier wants to keep them buried.