The downgrading from bridleway to footpath seemingly at random on a lot of these paths is not only a PIA but is done with nothing more than placating the local landowners in mind. I can understand why you'd restrict vehicle access to what are now leisure trails but to boot out horses and cyclists on what are often no more than individual house 'bypasses' is nonsensical.

I 'often' (maybe half a dozen times a year!) run a few local 15/ 20 mile sections of the Ridgeway near here but my wife can't come along on a bicycle because of cycle restrictions on a couple of short bits that go past 'lord of the manor' type buildings.

There's a couple of small country roads near here that in the past used to be the direct link routes between villages. In the last five years large houses have been built part of the way along each of them and the road restricted. On one of them there's now a 100m section changed from vehicle access to footpath only. The second one put up their own gates on the road - which the council then took down. However, a year on I notice the gates are back - this time with the council's blessing. There's also a large notice from them downgrading a 400m section to footpath only - despite the road still being tarmac covered. So it doesn't surprise me that a lot of the North Downs Way would be restricted. It's a very desirable area to live!