The footpaths of the United Kingdom crisscross the countryside, without regard to boundaries of private property. The paths are ancient rights-of-way, protected by law and anyone who thinks, because they own a piece of land they can prevent access, is soon set right by the vigorous enforcement of militant walkers.
Because there are rights-of-way does not mean there are no hedges, walls or fences around fields. Paths are frequently blocked and access to the paths is by stiles to go over and by gates, for machines and livestock, as well as walkers, with dire warnings for those careless enough to forget to close them. Also popular are pedestrian gates with springs that close them, and some through which only one person on foot may physically pass at a time, shown in the Oxfordshire link below.
I wish I had more stiles to show you, as by now I’ve crossed hundreds. But here are several, taken while amusing myself along the Southwest Coast Path one day. By the next day I’d apparently forgotten to record any more.
Here’s a document posted online by the Oxfordshire County Council, just so you won’t have to take my word for how seriously rights-of-way are considered. There is also a picture of one of my favorite designs of one-person-at-a-time gates, which, while not requiring climbing, may involve removing one’s pack to fit. The advantage of these is no one must remember to close them, as none but the most clever of animals finds their way through. I suspect that includes walkers.
Here’s one of a number of websites devoted to the South West Coast Path.
Use your favorite search engine to find others.
For more of PortMoresby’s contributions, click here.
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