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Horses, hiking, bits and Bobbies -
England
 Public Footpaths and Hiking in Britain
To me, a north American, the public
footpath system in Britain is nothing short of shocking. I am used to
thinking in terms of good fences making good neighbors. Allowing strangers
access to your land means, in my real life and unfortunate experience,
that snow mobile drivers left beer bottles and trash around the campfires
they made from my trees, horseback riders tossed the rubbish from their
lunches along side the trails, and hikers just messed up everything!
Broken glass, trash, beer cans and bottles, cigarette trash, and sometimes
for variety, used condoms are the norm more than the exception along many
trails that I am used to being able to use.
 Then
I went to England.
The first time I saw a sign that seemed to tell me I could climb over a
farmers fence and trod through his fields, along with his cows, I was so
sure I was misunderstanding things I could not bring myself to try it!
Only after seeing several more of these signs, and other people taking
them at face value, did I get up the nerve to try for myself. I spent the
first few hours convinced someone would "catch" me and put me in jail (or
gaol) for trespass. Then I met the landowner in one place, the kind
gentleman stepping quickly out of "the way" and waiting for me to snap a
few photos before hauling his load further along the path. He didn't
arrest me, didn't accost me, didn't even ask me what the blazes I thought
I was doing skirting the edge of his orchard. Could this be for real?
Where was the trash? Where was the broken glass and piles of doggie doo?
Where were the endless cigarette butts? No condoms? Could this be true?
In the next town up the way, I stopped and asked a shop owner if I was
getting this whole thing right. And was told, with great amusement on his
part, that public right of ways were allowed and expected in Britain.
Protected by law no less. Enjoy. And so I have ever since!
I'll share a few photos with you below, I hope you enjoy it too.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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