Rights and responsibilities...rant alert!

[Pearlsasinger]

The people who bred my old boy had this sign with the words added " Survivors will be shot again". Always made me laugh.

On the other hand, my friend has a footpath running through her field. She's ended up putting a fence up sectionning off that part of the field. Fed up with loose dogs, cyclists, people using it as a toilet, picnic area and so on. Unfortunately there are some entitled ignorant people around.

There is a footpath behind our house ( not on our land) and the things we watch people, who should be on it but aren't, get up to! They interfere with neighbour's stock, play football, 'train' their dogs, encourage their children to race across the grass away from the path. The other day I noticed a dog-poo bag left on the garden gate post. They must have left the path to keave it there. I must admit, neighbour is far more forgiving than I would be!

 

[palo1]

There is a footpath behind our house ( not on our land) and the things we watch people, who should be on it but aren't, get up to! They interfere with neighbour's stock, play football, 'train' their dogs, encourage their children to race across the grass away from the path. The other day I noticed a dog-poo bag left on the garden gate post. They must have left the path to keave it there. I must admit, neighbour is far more forgiving than I would be!

I think we are generally lucky; most walkers that get this far are lovely and often very knowledgeable. Or lost, and grateful to find a farm lol! We hardly ever see horse riders or cyclists. But recently we have found gates open as well as other issues; littering and wild camping are far more common than pre-Covid. I keep wanting to go and check the gate but will not give in to neuroses/anxiety !!

 

[Jambarissa]

We have trialled several signs to try to keep people out of our hay fields. The most effective was a 'beware, pesticide' one, makes people reconsider walking through waist high grass.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

I have had much the same - lost 3 unbroken horses for 12hours and they had free access to roads including a major dual carriageway. I have nw locked the gate and built a stile adjacent. I get complaints from the local council rights of way but bizarrley nothng from general public.

Rights of Way determined to provide countryside access for wheelchair users but the local town and railway station is pretty inaccessible. Perhaps they should get that right before a 3 mile hilly hike?

I hope your ewes are ok, @palo1

A local farmer kept replacing a broken down stile, but it kept getting broken, I think by idiots on dirt bikes who obviously couldn’t get through. He’s given up now, there hasn’t been livestock in any of the fields for the time I’ve lived here, 20 odd years. In another field, there’s a slam shut gate on a hefty spring and lots of Duke of Edinburgh children use it, it’s industrial heavy metal, so built to last. There’s a kissing gate as you go into the Woodland trust bit of the woods from the carpark. I had to wait ages for a couple on bikes last week as the woman just could not work out how to negotiate her bike through.

Separate whinge, but with all the recent rain, cyclists are wrecking the paths. I noticed the path in the council owned section had new stony surface put down years ago so it’s nowhere near as muddy. It’s also very stony round here anyway, putting in fence posts/the pergola was no fun.

 

[blitznbobs]

Padlock the gates … simple

 

[Pearlsasinger]

The

Padlock the gates … simple

N OP will ve the one at fault, she has already said the gate is across an ancient right of way which crosses her land

 

[Caol Ila]

Found this sign on Skye today. Felt strangely joyous about the pure bluntness of it. Wish I could put one in Mugdock!

People are idiots. We have the Scottish Outdoor Access Code here, which gives right of access to lots of land. We appreciate it, but people are too f))£in useless. Lots of stiles and kissing gates everywhere to prevent the sort of thing that made palo’s day shight. I understand why they have to do it. Fine for walking or mountain biking (you can throw your bike over a gate). Harder for kayaking (hoiking heavy kayaks + associated gear over gates isn’t fun, but you can do it) and impossible for horses. If we ever get a trailer, we’d take our horse exploring in the Highlands but almost every trail would need reccying by foot or bike first.

If people weren’t such fannies, landowners could be friendlier to all access takers. People suck.

 

[blitznbobs]

The

N OP will ve the one at fault, she has already said the gate is across an ancient right of way which crosses her land

But there is no need to have an opening gate - a style or at a push kissing gate will do the job … don’t trust the public to shut a gate they don’t and won’t and are guaranteed to be unreliable in such a way - I’m not blaming the op I’m just offering a solution to the problem …

 

[Caol Ila]

But there is no need to have an opening gate - a style or at a push kissing gate will do the job … don’t trust the public to shut a gate they don’t and won’t and are guaranteed to be unreliable in such a way - I’m not blaming the op I’m just offering a solution to the problem …

OP has also said horse riders occasionally take access. As one herself, she probably appreciates that they are blocked by stiles and kissing gates in many other places.

Those snappy self-closing gates force you to dismount your horse in order to safely negotiate the gate, but at least they allow riders access (unlike a kissing gate) and prevent numpties from leaving gates open. Might be a workable compromise?

 

[palo1]

We have trialled several signs to try to keep people out of our hay fields. The most effective was a 'beware, pesticide' one, makes people reconsider walking through waist high grass.

my OH says that is genius!

But there is no need to have an opening gate - a style or at a push kissing gate will do the job … don’t trust the public to shut a gate they don’t and won’t and are guaranteed to be unreliable in such a way - I’m not blaming the op I’m just offering a solution to the problem …

The right of way includes horses so a stile or kissing gate wouldn't work sadly. We've never had this problem before but in the last couple of years it has become more of an issue.

 

[palo1]

OP has also said horse riders occasionally take access. As one herself, she probably appreciates that they are blocked by stiles and kissing gates in many other places.

Those snappy self-closing gates force you to dismount your horse in order to safely negotiate the gate, but at least they allow riders access (unlike a kissing gate) and prevent numpties from leaving gates open. Might be a workable compromise?

Yes, a self closing gate could work though I hate them and I like that our hill gate can be done easily when in the saddle. As you say, I know how awful and restricted some access can be for riders: I don't want to add to that! Also, we use our horses to work the sheep on the hill at times so it's better for us if the gate is simple, traditional...But mostly kept shut!

 

[Caol Ila]

I’d try with grumpy signs. If that doesn’t work, self-closing gates are probably your best compromise. Not ideal for riders but they can cope with it. It’s probably easier than chasing your animals around. You could wing in some logs or rocks nearby to help riders get back on.

I will hop on Fin from the ground, but I try to stand on something to get on Hermosa as that extra hand of height feels like a lot more torque. She’s gotten pretty good at accepting any object as a mountain block.

 

[Lois Lame]

I have had much the same - lost 3 unbroken horses for 12hours and they had free access to roads including a major dual carriageway. I have nw locked the gate and built a stile adjacent. I get complaints from the local council rights of way but bizarrley nothng from general public.

Rights of Way determined to provide countryside access for wheelchair users but the local town and railway station is pretty inaccessible. Perhaps they should get that right before a 3 mile hilly hike?

That was a great idea. IMO a walker would love a style - much more fun than a gate. (I do, anyhow.)

 

[TheMule]

I added a small gate in next to a pedestrian kissing gate on a footpath that crosses my fields so I can ride out the top of my land. I had issues with it being left open so I put a padlock on it (given it's only me that needs to be able to use it) so some delightful bikers lifted it off its hinges. I gave up and put a barb wire fence in instead. People are the worst!

 

[millitiger]

I really feel for you.

We used to have somewhere with footpaths crossing the big, top field.
We put a gate at the top as the farmer behind kindly said I could ride across one field to join the Mytton Way. Said gate was next to a stile.

We had to lock the gate as people kept leaving it open which risked my horses, or farmer's sheep, escaping.
On the second day we went up and some kind soul had filled the lock with super glue

I am so, so grateful to have found somewhere with no rights of way crossing it at all- complete peace of mind that no one is messing with the horses and the dogs can wander without supervision.

 

[Time for Tea]

[QUOTE="millitiger, post: 15565744, member: 52047"

I am so, so grateful to have found somewhere with no rights of way crossing it at all- complete peace of mind that no one is messing with the horses and the dogs can wander without supervision.
[/QUOTE]

Yes, I thought the same about my patch. There I was brushing a horse on my yard one morning when a complete stranger walked round the corner of the barn. Oh, he said. “I didn’t realise I would come out on someone’s place. I thought there would be a footpath!”
Thought there would be! As he had come all the way on fields and a bit of private heath I’m not sure from where he thought it would materialise! No harm done, but people will wander about, and some seem to resent people who own a bit of land or property and want to show their disapproval. Or something.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

[QUOTE="millitiger, post: 15565744, member: 52047"

I am so, so grateful to have found somewhere with no rights of way crossing it at all- complete peace of mind that no one is messing with the horses and the dogs can wander without supervision.

Yes, I thought the same about my patch. There I was brushing a horse on my yard one morning when a complete stranger walked round the corner of the barn. Oh, he said. “I didn’t realise I would come out on someone’s place. I thought there would be a footpath!”
Thought there would be! As he had come all the way on fields and a bit of private heath I’m not sure from where he thought it would materialise! No harm done, but people will wander about, and some seem to resent people who own a bit of land or property and want to show their disapproval. Or something.
[/QUOTE]


We get this, too. We live at the end of a private lane and our gate which is locked frequently has people trying to get through it. On one notable occasion a group of about 8 cyclists appeared and seemed rather surprised that the gate was locked, not long after we moved in. We think they had got used to crossing the land while the property was empty but they must have climbed over the drystone wall boundary as there are no gates out of our property except the one that we keep locked at the end of the lane.

 

[blitznbobs]

my OH says that is genius!

The right of way includes horses so a stile or kissing gate wouldn't work sadly. We've never had this problem before but in the last couple of years it has become more of an issue.

It sucks the only way we got round this is by fencing both sides of the way through our land which is not great but we couldn’t risk the horses, sheep, cows escaping onto what is a fairly major main road. Expensive and annoying thanks to a couple of idiots

 

[ycbm]

I am so, so grateful to have found somewhere with no rights of way crossing it at all- complete peace of mind that no one is messing with the horses and the dogs can wander without supervision.

This was a prerequisite when we were searching for a place with land. We wouldn't have bought land with a footpath through it because of all the issues we'd heard of.

We still got one bunch of walkers, and a whole organised cross country run day (can't remember what these are called but it was clear that it was a badge of honour to run in fields instead of on the quiet road alongside them).

Still, not bad in 31 years.
.

 

[limestonelil]

We have the winning the lottery dream of fencing in the farm footpaths on both sides, because people, mainly dog walkers who now live locally, use our fields to let their dogs run anywhere, even if there is lambing ewes in. And increasingly consider it as their right to do so. Also now there is the athletics business side, where an individual makes up a fp/bw route, organises an event, and charges other runners/cyclists etc to take part. This latter use is legal, but obvs not what the paths were designed for.

 

[Orangehorse]

You are right about rights and responsibilities. Public path users have all the rights on their side (I speak as a Bridlepath user) yet forget about their responsibilities (speak as a landowner).

Agree with all the above. We have a couple of very popular footpaths which are a perfect length for the village dog walkers. I get into a rage when I see dog poo bags dangling in the hedge.

A fenced dog walking area has recently opened and another larger one at the other end of the village is being constructed. I wonder if it will help to stop people letting their dogs loose and crap.....g) in our silage grass and grazing fields?

 

[YorksG]

You are right about rights and responsibilities. Public path users have all the rights on their side (I speak as a Bridlepath user) yet forget about their responsibilities (speak as a landowner).

Agree with all the above. We have a couple of very popular footpaths which are a perfect length for the village dog walkers. I get into a rage when I see dog poo bags dangling in the hedge.

A fenced dog walking area has recently opened and another larger one at the other end of the village is being constructed. I wonder if it will help to stop people letting their dogs loose and crap.....g) in our silage grass and grazing fields?

Probably won't help much, as they will have to pay to use those, when they can let them run loose in your fields for free

 

[Pearlsasinger]

This was a prerequisite when we were searching for a place with land. We wouldn't have bought land with a footpath through it because of all the issues we'd heard of.

We still got one bunch of walkers, and a whole organised cross country run day (can't remember what these are called but it was clear that it was a badge of honour to run in fields instead of on the quiet road alongside them).

Still, not bad in 31 years.
.

It was one of our non-negotiables too but we didn't realise just how determined people who want to feed our horses would be.

 

[ihatework]

I’d probably put one of those self closing gates in, but build a mounting block each side for riders

 

[Goldenstar]

Doesn’t everybody know that if you open a gate, you close a gate?! (Obviously not!)

You would think so and I find bemusing that people leave gates open , it only takes a basic level of intelligence to think it through .

Padlock the gates … simple

Ancient rights of way are special our fore bearers walked them .
You walk on one you are walking with history .
That right needs protecting.

 

[PeterNatt]

I would suggest fitting equine friendly self-closing gates so that they automatically close. They are manufactured by Centrewire. https://centrewire.com/products/chiltern-2-way-gate-mk2/

 

[palo1]

[QUOTE="millitiger, post: 15565744, member: 52047"

I am so, so grateful to have found somewhere with no rights of way crossing it at all- complete peace of mind that no one is messing with the horses and the dogs can wander without supervision.

Yes, I thought the same about my patch. There I was brushing a horse on my yard one morning when a complete stranger walked round the corner of the barn. Oh, he said. “I didn’t realise I would come out on someone’s place. I thought there would be a footpath!”
Thought there would be! As he had come all the way on fields and a bit of private heath I’m not sure from where he thought it would materialise! No harm done, but people will wander about, and some seem to resent people who own a bit of land or property and want to show their disapproval. Or something.
[/QUOTE]
We've had that on a property with no rights of way too! I think people find somewhere nice to walk and crack on regardless of access. Our current track is very little used and I love the history associated with it so I am glad we have it. We just need people to be sensible!

 

[palo1]

You would think so and I find bemusing that people leave gates open , it only takes a basic level of intelligence to think it through .



Ancient rights of way are special our fore bearers walked them .
You walk on one you are walking with history .
That right needs protecting.

I completely agree about ancient rights of way and the need to protect them - most modern roads originated with those tracks too. Our farm wouldn't exist without the track and whilst the farm is over 500' years old, the track is far more ancient. It is a common right to use it that really does need to be upheld; it isn't ours to mess with! But, please keep our hill gate shut!

 

[palo1]

I would suggest fitting equine friendly self-closing gates so that they automatically close. They are manufactured by Centrewire. https://centrewire.com/products/chiltern-2-way-gate-mk2/

I like that though we would need a 12ft version I think.

 

[Carlosmum]

Cows and calves out on the landlords corn last weekend. Heading towards the village. 2 Bridleway gates had been left open, no idea if it was walkers or riders. Will add signs to gate but don't hold much hope. OH thinks it might have been a chap walking his dog off the lead, who was told firmly to keep the dog on a few days earlier, he then proceeded to claim OH had blocked the path by parking the truck in front of the gate while he was checking cattle. Could he have returned to leave the gate open.... who knows!?