What a whopper!
Kevin Clinton
accosted by the local landowner/manager who denied knowledge of any
public rights of way in the area.
With a voice that could cut glass in Wilmslow, he informed me that I had
it wrong: apparently, green dotted lines on my 1/25000 OS map indicate
farm tracks.
I've been walking in the British countryside for over 40 years, and
variants on this type of incident have happened to me scores of times -
but only when I'm not accompanied by the County Council's footpaths
officer.
And... at that crucial moment, I never seem to have a really snappy
answer.
I spend the rest of the walk dreaming of the repartee I wish I used.
Any brilliant suggestions for next time?
--
Kevin
Martin Smith
license to cut glass in a rural setting.
--
Martin Smith
Paradigm Logistic Systems (UK) Ltd
m...@nospamparadigm-uk.com
+44 (0) 1895 823813
Kevin Clinton <ke...@nospamclintons.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:eHQtHGAy...@clintons.demon.co.uk...
Matti Lamprhey
news:eHQtHGAy...@clintons.demon.co.uk...
> Descending a footpath off one of the Welsh hills yesterday, I was
> accosted by the local landowner/manager who denied knowledge of any
> public rights of way in the area.
> With a voice that could cut glass in Wilmslow, he informed me that I had
> it wrong: apparently, green dotted lines on my 1/25000 OS map indicate
> farm tracks.
> I've been walking in the British countryside for over 40 years, and
> variants on this type of incident have happened to me scores of times -
> but only when I'm not accompanied by the County Council's footpaths
> officer.
> And... at that crucial moment, I never seem to have a really snappy
> answer.
> I spend the rest of the walk dreaming of the repartee I wish I used.
> Any brilliant suggestions for next time?
If you had the map to hand you could have shown him the legend. Unless he
doesn't understand English, there's little room for misinterpretation --
green dotted line = public right of way. The only argument he might have is
the line it takes.
Matti
Richard Webb
<ke...@nospamclintons.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>Descending a footpath off one of the Welsh hills yesterday, I was
>accosted by the local landowner/manager who denied knowledge of any
>public rights of way in the area.
>With a voice that could cut glass in Wilmslow, he informed me that I had
>it wrong: apparently, green dotted lines on my 1/25000 OS map indicate
>farm tracks.
1)Stand firm, unless threeatened.Its always worked for me. (I only
have problems on ROWs, the buggers seem to stay off the high ground).
2) Above all stay civil and friendly. You are the "good guy".
3) Tell us where this path is so we can go and give some moral support
by walking it.
Backpacker
Kevin Clinton <ke...@nospamclintons.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> Descending a footpath off one of the Welsh hills yesterday, I was
> accosted by the local landowner/manager who denied knowledge of any
> public rights of way in the area.
> With a voice that could cut glass in Wilmslow, he informed me that I
had
> it wrong: apparently, green dotted lines on my 1/25000 OS map indicate
> farm tracks.
> variants on this type of incident have happened to me scores of times
-
> but only when I'm not accompanied by the County Council's footpaths
> officer.
> And... at that crucial moment, I never seem to have a really snappy
> answer.
> I spend the rest of the walk dreaming of the repartee I wish I used.
> Any brilliant suggestions for next time?
> Kevin
>
Tell him to get lost or you will be back tomorow with the
footpaths officer, inform him that you have been walking for 40yrs,
know of your rights, and the last farmer who tried to ruin your walk,
you took to county court and was awarded 100 pounds compensation!
Farmers are isolated and lonely people with a high suicide rate
so expect him to take an overdose in the evening.
--
rough it in a tent!
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
sea...@my-deja.com
Backpacker <huwh...@my-deja.com> wrote:
> In article <eHQtHGAy...@clintons.demon.co.uk>,
> Kevin Clinton <ke...@nospamclintons.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> > Descending a footpath off one of the Welsh hills yesterday, I was
> > accosted by the local landowner/manager who denied knowledge of any
> > public rights of way in the area.
> > With a voice that could cut glass in Wilmslow, he informed me that I
> had
> > it wrong: apparently, green dotted lines on my 1/25000 OS map
indicate
> > farm tracks.
> > I've been walking in the British countryside for over 40 years, and
> > variants on this type of incident have happened to me scores of
times
"I'm sorry i dont speak...."
Kevin Clinton
>Reply in welsh , "Mae hin drwwg gen i , dwi ddim yn siarad shite"
Backpacker for their suggestions.
I've usually found that a jovial greeting of 'Bore da' or 'Pnawn da'
will soften the heart of the most suicidal Welsh hillfarmer - but
doesn't do a damn thing in England.
T'ain't the point though - it's our statutory right to walk the paths
and bridleways, if not yet the open countryside.
It seems to me that many landowners, rather than use twopenn'orth of
paint to indicate the correct line of a footpath would rather spend much
more time and effort trying to intimidate or confuse walkers so that
they give up and don't go back there again.
So what to do?
I intend to:
1) Stand Firm (as Richard's advice), and then carry on walking along the
ROW, demanding personal details of anybody who tries to stop me.
2) Get It On Record - write to the County Council about every such
incident, asking the CC for their proposals. (And actually do it, rather
than muttering about it.)
er... oh yes
3) and remember to carry writing materials in my rucksack.
4) anything else?
FWIW I can recommend a very pleasant half-day walk over little Foel Goch
from Llangwm, near Cerrigydrudion (OS 1/25000 map Snowdonia, Harlech and
Bala is useful). Lovely views of the Clwyds, Berwins, and Snowdonia. I
met the glass-cutter at SH 958438, but he's probably gone now. I sure
hope he doesn't get lost.
--
Kevin
W.D.Grey
<ke...@nospamclintons.demon.co.uk> writes
>I've usually found that a jovial greeting of 'Bore da' or 'Pnawn da'
>will soften the heart of the most suicidal Welsh hillfarmer -
Git!"....:-)
--
Bill
http://www.graigroad.demon.co.uk