If I can open a diary following on from that by Quichina early this week.

The Definitive Map (DM) is developed and maintained by the county councils it is essentially a public document, however the background is ( historically and at present ) an Ordnance Survey production (arguably stolen from the public as most of the content is derived from planning documents held again by the local authorities - and yes, paid for by your council tax).
I do not see a problem with homework, using reference (but not adherence) to the DMs, and then intensive groundwork to fix the route.
As for using way-marking on paths, lol, for most of the ROW I am familiar with, you are lucky to see a post at either end of the track, the route is often 2m deep in bracken and I have considered a scythe (but a night in the cell could be tedious).
As for the actual right of way on the ground, it can be even more confusing, for instance, where a drive to a farm or house is evident, the DM may in some instances show the ROW off to the side, in the field, hence, technically it is trespass to use the gravel or tarmac here, but how obvious is this ?
Many moorland tracks (away from the National Parks) are quite literally undetectable, very subtle clues are required to navigate these over many miles of featureless terrain. Some routes I take appear not to have had any significant use in years.

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