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Buying a House with a Footpath - Advice/Thoughts

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  • Dustyevsky
    Dustyevsky Posts: 2,536 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Homepage Hero Photogenic
    GDB2222 said:
    As a member of the Ramblers Association, I can confirm that we are becoming rather militant about protecting footpaths.
    You'll all be voting for Keir, then.
    https://www.cla.org.uk/news/labours-right-to-roam-policy-incompatible-with-claim-to-be-the-party-of-the-countryside/

    Or will you? I've never had the pleasure of shouting, "Oi! Gerroffof moi laaand!"  while waving a shotgun, so looking forward to that prospect, along with the installation of a few fortifications which might provide some mental challenges similar to those in the Crystal Maze. Should be a shoot hoot!
    "There is no such thing as a low-energy rich country." Dr Chris Martenson. Peak Prosperity
  • GixerKate
    GixerKate Posts: 435 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I think it boils down to the question - are you ok with strangers crossing through your land?  If it was me I would pass on this property I'm afraid.  I have young children and pets so having random strangers (with their dogs potentially) roaming around is a no no for me.

    There are many footpaths around where I am that cross people's property and farms which cause no end of problems.  I know many people walk their dogs on the paths and do not stop their dogs from roaming, would you be ok with finding random piles of dog poo?  There are groups that organise group walks on all the footpaths on a regular basis so if there was a footpath, they will ensure people walk on it.  If there are groups in your area then they will do the same.

    I can see both sides of this, there are loads of considerate walkers and land owners but equally there are loads of the inconsiderate ones too.
  • Dustyevsky
    Dustyevsky Posts: 2,536 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Homepage Hero Photogenic
    edited 10 July 2023 at 2:59PM
    GixerKate said:
    There are many footpaths around where I am that cross people's property and farms which cause no end of problems.  I know many people walk their dogs on the paths and do not stop their dogs from roaming, would you be ok with finding random piles of dog poo? 
    Being serious for a moment, the likelihood of people behaving badly within a garden is much lower than within a field at distance from habitation.
    A case in point was the strip of roadside grass behind our front fence, which was dog poo prone and not something I enjoyed strimming! As the fence was high enough to give cover to the walkers and their dogs, down it came, to be replaced by low box-type hedging. Result = no more poo.
    I think it was Roald Dahl in one of his children's books who pointed out many adults are OK with behaving badly, provided other adults won't find out.
    "There is no such thing as a low-energy rich country." Dr Chris Martenson. Peak Prosperity
  • GDB2222
    GDB2222 Posts: 26,204 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    GixerKate said:
    There are many footpaths around where I am that cross people's property and farms which cause no end of problems.  I know many people walk their dogs on the paths and do not stop their dogs from roaming, would you be ok with finding random piles of dog poo? 
    Being serious for a moment, the likelihood of people behaving badly within a garden is much lower than within a field at distance from habitation.
    A case in point was the strip of roadside grass behind our front fence, which was dog poo prone and not something I enjoyed strimming! As the fence was high enough to give cover to the walkers and their dogs, down it came, to be replaced by low box-type hedging. Result = no more poo.
    I think it was Roald Dahl in one of his children's books who pointed out many adults are OK with behaving badly, provided other adults won't find out.
    I don't think that Ramblers behave badly. Even so, the OP might be upset if 30 people tramp through her garden, however politely they say hello.


    No reliance should be placed on the above! Absolutely none, do you hear?
  • stuhse
    stuhse Posts: 303 Forumite
    Third Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 10 July 2023 at 7:08PM
    GDB2222 said:
    GixerKate said:
    There are many footpaths around where I am that cross people's property and farms which cause no end of problems.  I know many people walk their dogs on the paths and do not stop their dogs from roaming, would you be ok with finding random piles of dog poo? 
    Being serious for a moment, the likelihood of people behaving badly within a garden is much lower than within a field at distance from habitation.
    A case in point was the strip of roadside grass behind our front fence, which was dog poo prone and not something I enjoyed strimming! As the fence was high enough to give cover to the walkers and their dogs, down it came, to be replaced by low box-type hedging. Result = no more poo.
    I think it was Roald Dahl in one of his children's books who pointed out many adults are OK with behaving badly, provided other adults won't find out.
    I don't think that Ramblers behave badly. Even so, the OP might be upset if 30 people tramp through her garden, however politely they say hello.


    And this is i believe where the differences of opinion can come in. Many ramblers would say they are not tramping through her garden;  they are walking along a public right of way.  A right of way takes precedent over whatever use the landowner wants to use the land for. 
  • I walked away from a property with a ‘silver’ footpath. It was overgrown and clearly hadn’t been used in years. In fact, it was only when a relative googled the property asked where the footpath sign was. Red flag! They’d cut it down

    Ramblers are rightly militant. They also have legal rights. It’s also your responsibility to keep the route clear. 

    You will not get it changed. The owners absolutely denied that it existed. I think they went through about 5 agents. Still not sold. I could cope with an alley but to clear current vegetation, erect a fence, they were not budging on price. I ran away.
    My Username is tongue in cheek. Not meant to offend I promise….
  • Mojisola
    Mojisola Posts: 35,571 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    gail5863 said:
    whilst looking at local walks we could take (Definitive map), I noticed there was a footpath /PRoW shown as running right through the middle of the property. 
    I have researched this thoroughly with the Footpaths Officer & Archives, & it appears because it's on the current Definitive Map, it is going to be very difficult to change.  
    All the historic maps until 1989 show the footpath in a position 20 metres away which would help the situation significantly and it wouldn't be as intrusive. 
    It appears the path might have been mapped incorrectly around 1989 as there's no legal paperwork to support a move to the current route.
    As the FP isn't clearly marked on the ground, I would be wondering whether whoever owned the neighbouring house was very helpful when people came to check the route of the path when making the definite map in 1989 and managed to get the official route off their land and onto the house you're now looking at.
    Unfortunately, the only choices you have are either buy and accept strangers using the path or pull out.
  • caprikid1
    caprikid1 Posts: 2,437 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
     There may be people who use it regularly just because they have a 'right'. There are lots of people who are very protective over their footpath rights.


    Maybe I watch too many TV dramas but this would be my concern. Someone gets a bee in their bonnet and uses it regularly, at weird times, just because they can.
    I live in an area where there are a lot of public footpaths. There are regularly 'disputes' on the local Facebook pages with either landowners reporting damage/ litter or the public complaint about blocked access.

    It's each to their own, just not for me

    We have footpaths local to us that the landowners try desperately to hide and distinguish the right of access. These are a historical right of access and if you don't feel comfortable with it don't but it. I celebrate those who ensure that these rights are maintained, heaven forbit our lives are forced to only walk down busy roads.

    For me, find a way to manage the access IE Fence it off move it slightly or accept it as it is.

    Personally I would pull out, you have been misled and they know it's an issue but are trying to ignore it.
  • TripleH
    TripleH Posts: 3,188 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    One aimed at @GDB2222, would it be worth talking to a local group to get a path amended with their cooperation and support?
    If it cuts through the middle of the garden, would you get it shifted to the bottom further from the house?
    Also shouldn't dogs be on a lead anyway, as you can shoot a dog that is a nuisance / threat on private land or us it just farm land? (I'm not advocating cruelty to animals, just that there are limitations in place).
    May you find your sister soon Helli.
    Sleep well.
  • Section62
    Section62 Posts: 9,734 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Name Dropper
    TripleH said:

    Also shouldn't dogs be on a lead anyway, as you can shoot a dog that is a nuisance / threat on private land or us it just farm land? (I'm not advocating cruelty to animals, just that there are limitations in place).
    Only farmland, and the dog has to pose an immediate threat to livestock.  In those circumstances the farmer would potentially have a defence against prosecution for animal cruelty or being sued for damages by the dog owner if they were able to show the shooting was necessary to protect the livestock.
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