Can’t find anything about this on the FC website, so hoping someone here might know.

Didn’t it used to be the general case (subject to local agreements/bylaws) that trails on FC land, whether waymarked or just well-established, were open to all users?

And then wasn’t there a hierarchy of who gives way to who (IIRC bikes give way to horses and walkers, horses give way to walkers)?

Or have I invented the whole thing?

https://www.gov.uk/right-of-way-open-access-land/use-your-right-to-roam

That clarifies a general position but doesn’t mention the FC specifically.

So then is FC owned or managed land ‘open access’?

And if so, how does that document relate to FC land trails that are well-established but not waymarked?

Right to roam does precisely the square root of **** all for cyclists in E&W. as for FC hopefully you’ll get an informed comment but they are widely used for events such as MTBO (and not just the public RoWs) so I expect usage on existing forest tracks is generally supported.

But you can use access land for horse-riding and cycling if:

the landowner allows it
public bridleways or byways cross the land – horse riders and cyclists can ride along these
there are local traditions, or rights, of access

Cheeky stuff is traditional.