Mass path

{{short description|Rural track}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}

Image:Stile 01 Ranaghan.jpg mass path stile]]

Image:Stile_line_drawing.jpg mass path stile's construction]]

A mass path is a pedestrian track or road connecting destinations frequently used by rural communities, traditionally leading to a church celebrating Sunday Mass. They were most common during the centuries that preceded motorised transportation in Western Europe, and in particular Great Britain, Ireland, and the Netherlands where such a path is called a kerkenpad ({{lit|church path}}).

Mass paths typically included stretches crossing the fields of neighbouring farmers, and were likely to contain stiles when crossing fences or other boundaries and plank bridges to cross ditches.

Some mass paths are still used today in the Republic of Ireland,{{cite web |url=http://www.gokerry.ie/derrynane-mass-path/ |title=Derrynane Mass Path, Caherdaniel |website=GoKerry.ie |access-date=13 November 2016|archive-date=13 November 2016 |url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113120830/http://www.gokerry.ie/derrynane-mass-path/ }} but are usually subject to Ireland's complicated rights of way law.[http://www.coillteoutdoors.ie/index.php?id=54&trail=126&no_cache=1 Coillte trail including mass path; accessed 2010] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071129150107/http://www.coillteoutdoors.ie/index.php?id=54&trail=126&no_cache=1 |date=29 November 2007 }}.