American Couple Reacts: British Footpaths! What Are They? How Are They Different? UK vs US!

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

We were told that British Footpaths are not what we would think they are. So, we tried to guess. Were we right or incredibly far off? We can tell you that we do have Footpaths in America, we just don't actually call them that. They are VERY different here vs there! This was a bit of a shock to us for one main reason. It is SO much fun to learn about the differences between the USA and the United Kingdom. These are things we wouldn't have otherwise known! We hope you enjoy this one and likely have a laugh or 3 at our expense. Thanks to each of YOU for watching! If you enjoy our content, please consider subscribing to our channel, it is the BEST way to support our channel and it's FREE! Also, please click the Like button. Thank you for your support!

[@liverpoollass7600]

Our footpaths are protected by law, even the property owner can't stop you from walking on them, and they can never be built on or closed up. It is called "the right to roam". The footpaths are throughout the UK, both in the countryside and the cities and towns.

[@glennwhittaker197]

OMG Natasha! Randomly your wearing a HAC rugby top & there we have another link together. I drive those guys n gals about for their military training weekends. 😃👍👍

[@mykota2417]

Another hard fought for right being eroded by latest gov's legislation. But I'm English let's not talk politics!

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

@@glennwhittaker197 send them my love! Seriously!

[@Masked_One_1316]

@@TheNatashaDebbieShow just to put in perspective with how old the British Isles are and how young the USA is apple pie was invented in 1380 and the USA was founded in 1776.

[@krissyg7026]

When Madonna lived here, she bought a place with lots of land, and it had a footpath running through it. She spend a LOT of money trying to ban walkers going through it, and lost 😂

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

Did she not get told prior to purchase??

[@krissyg7026]

Yep she knew it was there, but didn’t understand that it would have to stay there. She thought she could throw money at it and make it go away.

[@goldencherry9033]

She (Madonna) lived near me. A friend of mine saw her in a pub nearby and everyone was playing it cool (I guess some just saw her all the time so the novelty had worn off). After Madonna left, my friend got up and licked the whole rim of the glass she’d been drinking from🤣🤷🏻‍♀️🤢 So probably best Madonna eventually moved on, cos the locals around here are😳 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@danielw5850]

@@TheNatashaDebbieShow Her solicitor, handling the purchase, would've raised the issue - there was no "surprise" element. Guy Ritchie (her former husband) retained the Ashcombe Estate, improved it and invested in local businesses that benefit the community; he left the footpath alone, knowing that it has been there for hundreds of years and that WE are all just "passing through" :)

[@kimwade459]

🤣🤣

[@kenjarvis3432]

We have a Welsh cottage built in 1741 that has a footpath through our garden and adjoining land . Originally used for moving cattle and agricultural traffic and we now have many walkers come through daily. As we are in the coastal national park it is maintained by the park authority and ourselves.

[@peterreece6547]

A lot of UK foot paths are ancient rights of way. Most are not hard paved pathways they are more a trod. They were used to move farm live stock, routes to churches some are describe as corpse road. Often along corpse roads stone slabs could be found to rest the coffins on and coffins must be carried in a certain way and if not carried correctly then the corpse would come back and haunt the carriers.

[@ritalamy5866]

It's just us here walking wherever we want😂😂😂

[@dhar6015]

In the UK, we have right to roam laws. This doesn't mean trampling across someone's back garden. However, these are historic pathways or roads. If new houses are built on a field with a footpath, the developer has to keep the footpath access, it can be re-routed through the site, but access has to be kept.

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

Thank you for that information!

[@vaudevillian7]

@@TheNatashaDebbieShow there’s a house near me with a large garden right next to the river and the footpath goes right through their garden - presumably because access was there before the house was built, it’s quite an old house though. Some of these rights of way are literally thousands of years old - the Ridgeway in the south of England is a famous one to maybe look into

[@FixTheLanes]

This is partially true, in England you have the right to roam over about 10% of the land whereas in Scotland it covers all outdoor countryside land, whether it is private or public. This came about because of land clearances similar to those in Ireland happened in Scotland whereby a few wealthy individuals owned the vast majority of the land. I'm unsure about Wales or Northern Irelands land laws

[@charlesdarwin9039]

A celebrity (Jeremy Clarkson) got in trouble for rerouting a footpath that went passed his window without permission.

[@smockboy]

@@FixTheLanes Wales is like England in this respect, we've got the Countryside and Right of Way (CRoW) Act that designates roughly 20% of the land as open access (and thus subject to the right to roam) on top of the general public right of way footpaths that are talked about in this video.

[@roberth.7260]

Absolutely loved their reaction to the video. Their disbelief that in the UK public footpaths could cross private land and that everyone was ok with that is priceless. Someone also needs to tell them that you can’t “own” a UK beach, either.

[@keithwarrington2430]

Everyone being ok with that is a slight exaggeration, there are still farmers who try to make it difficult. And city councils ( like Peterborough ) who have blocked off a footpath for 11 years because of some rowdy behaviour.

[@roberth.7260]

@@keithwarrington2430 I fully accept that. There will always be a few people who don’t like the rules. But, in my experience, as a regular walker in Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire, and a frequent visitor to Wales, the Lake District, the Pennines, and the western highlands of Scotland, overwhelmingly the footpaths are well maintained and accessible. Conversely, I can understand some farmers and landowners anger and frustration over the bad behaviour of some walkers - I have seen the litter, the gates left open, the dogs off leads, etc.

[@Mike-pm9kn]

If I remember correctly, the Crown owns UK beaches.

[@CrispeeCrisps15]

@@roberth.7260 countryside code!!! always close gates behind you

[@scrappystocks]

Mac, the guy who presented the video, is an American who moved to live here in the UK with his wife and four children over two years ago. He's a farmer or he's certainly connected with the farming industry, in both the US and UK. He's made a few videos about his life here and the differences between life here and where he lived back home

[@rickb3645]

Yeah... Mac and his family are lovely... I like viewing his visits to agricultural shows around the country... l was also very impressed when he gave the Magic Roundabout a try... For an American to attempt driving around there... Is very impressive... And it must have been a very nerve-wracking experience for him... They're both expecting their fifth child soon too... And they also live in a very beautiful part of the UK... I think Mac and his family have settled in very nicely to a more relaxed way of life we have over here... I wish them well in the future.👍

[@lynnejamieson2063]

@@rickb3645 fifth and sixth, it’s twins their having isn’t it?

[@rickb3645]

@@lynnejamieson2063 You're probably right Lynne... I pop in every now and then to have a binge watch of their videos... I think the last one i watched was when they both visited the smokehouse place with all the American style food... They might have mentioned it but i must have missed it... I can sometimes get easily distracted when i'm watching KZbin... 🤣👍

[@lynnejamieson2063]

@@rickb3645 oh, it’s far too easy to get distracted on and by KZbin. It’s definitely been in a video since the barbecue place.

[@rickb3645]

@@lynnejamieson2063 🤣 Yeah... I tend to watch them very late at night... And i sometimes fall asleep for a few minutes... I might rewind to where i fell asleep... I might not on other occasions... Once you posted it was twins... I vaguely recall something to that fact... Which is why i said that you were probably right... My bad. 👍

[@graememayes8483]

Just for clarity (I'm English), a public footpath is a legally protected right of access to travel. Centuries of documented use qualifies the footpath for protection. The path's need only be as wide as (just over) a yard . Across private property? - these paths are very old, A path that once followed the edge of a field or wood, may not today. Over the centuries, farms are bought and sold, fields were made bigger, the path that once followed the edge of a field now runs through the middle of it. Only on farmland? Over the centuries new villages and towns were built, lots have protected footpaths running right through them. Maintained? If you purchase land that has a footpath on , you have also taken on the responsibility to maintain the footpath. This requirement is only to maintain the path free from obstruction (just over a yard in width). If you build a wall across a footpath,you also need to install a gate (or some other form of access). It is not easy to legally move or remove a footpath, it does not happen often. Hope this answers some questions.

[@Steve-rr8qf]

I have a footpath that goes through my garden, it's my duty to maintain the entrance and exit gates and the path itself. I also put a few signs up to warn walkers of my pyscho chickens 😂

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

Oh we wanna hear more about the psycho chickens!!

[@Steve-rr8qf]

@The Natasha & Debbie Show I remember looking out of my window one afternoon to see a little old man sprinting across the path with 3 chickens attached to his backpack and another attacking his ankles. After that I thought I'd better warn people

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

@@Steve-rr8qf 😆😂🤣 Please make a video!!!

[@Steve-rr8qf]

@@TheNatashaDebbieShow 😂😂😂

[@robbie_]

Haha great story Steve.

[@helenwood8482]

It's always funny when Americans are confused by our freedoms. The right to roam is important to us.

[@angelahughes9971]

This happened to Madonna when she bought a house with Guy Richie. Public footpath across her back yard (I use the word yard loosely) she tried to get it closed... no dice. We have a right to roam on public footpaths and no millionaire pop star can stop us 😉

[@tonybennett4159]

I took this path once. It descended from a ridge and then connected up with the lengthy driveway leading up to the house. The house was still behind hedges etc but was easy to see. After several hundred yards, the path diverged from the driveway and led over a stile into farmland, so the part of the driveway that continued on to connect with the road was not legally accessible to walkers. Most walkers in the UK are grateful for this wonderful network and generally observe the country code faithfully.

[@allycbythesea7937]

So did the awful human being that is jeremy Clarkson 🤮

[@caithemburrow5569]

Someone tried to tell me off for walking this footpath once

[@PollyCarpenter-r8s]

We had a bridle way (public footpath) running across a field not far from my house. It was originally owned by a farmer who having no one to leave the farm to, sold it to developers. The developers decided they would build an industrial area on the field & hoped the locals wouldn’t cause a problem. Big mistake - huge. Us locals wasn’t taking that lying down & wrote to the council & our MP. Conclusion: There is a small industrial area & a footpath running right through the middle…Job done!

[@elainehumphrey2307]

Bridle way for horses.

[@yves2694]

As the other comment says Bridle Ways are solely for horses. Walkers should not think it's any kind of footpath and definitely not cyclists

[@fablolliesrock]

@@yves2694 That's not correct. According to the OS "Bridleways are legally protected routes that the public can use on foot or on horseback". According to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 "“bridleway” means a highway over which the public have the following, but no other, rights of way, that is to say, a right of way on foot and a right of way on horseback or leading a horse". Various legal and Council websites say the same. The name merely reflects historic use by horses, not any current entitlement or priority over other users. Cyclists are also legally permitted to use bridleways but there is no obligation to facilitate their access and they must give way to other users.

[@christineharding4190]

Footpaths (thousands of them) came into being as routes between villages and towns and are known as "public rights of way". Yes, they go through people's gardens - I've walked them. Some land owners are better at maintaining footpaths on their land than others.

[@lauryn2868]

There’s also the concept of shortcuts, in that they would go through gardens and fields and if it’s been used for over 20 years of something then it becomes a protected route

[@MDM1992]

I can live with a poorly maintained one, it's the relatively new land owners who run out screaming you're on private property and they're going to call the police to get you arrested.. when one, you can't get arrested for trespass all they'd do is ask you to leave, and best of all, the public access and rights of way would be clearly laid out in black and white in the deeds they evidently didn't read thoroughly lol those are the really annoying ones to have to use regularly lol

[@stephenremington8448]

Also, illegal for the landowner to cause them to be blocked, deliberately or by neglect.

[@Queenfloofles]

Yes Ive been over plenty of stiles which I thought were out to kill me. So rotten they're falling to bits under foot and other ones where the owner has put barbed wire across the top of it. 😬

[@wrs10]

In Europe people lived in villages and had to walk out to reach the fields. Simple. (The paths are not supposed to be plowed over but with large machinery it is simpler to plow the lot but if the path is shown on an Ordinance Survey map as a pubic path that definitively a public footpath.

[@johnnyW1966]

Here in Gillingham, Kent, the town grew very quickly as the Royal Dockyard expanded, and we went from a small village to a sprawling Victorian town in a few decades. Despite all the rows and rows of Victorian terraced houses, the developers had to respect the existing footpaths, so now you can walk the various ancient routes via the alleyways between the houses, in pretty much straight lines. It is a great way to cross the town to various locations, huge shortcuts that only pedestrians can take and it's fascinating to know you are walking the same routes that have been used for thousands of years.

[@Mitchell4892]

lol, never come across another Gillingham person before now. Grew up in Darland, I don't live there anymore. Ended up moving to Suffolk in my 20s and stayed there. Do like going back to visit friends and family around Christmas/other events. A lot of people complain about Medway but I never had any issues and quite liked it. What was your local? Mine ended up being "The Star" due to proximity but had many a boozy night in there in my early teens haha

[@johnnyW1966]

@Mitch We used The Star a lot (still do!) . Some of the juicers that are still open, that we used are The Plough and Chequers, The Ash Tree, The Hastings Arms, The Cricketers (both Gillingham and Rainham) The Britannia, The Wagon at Hale, The Tudor Rose at Upnor, The King's Arms in Rochester. Sadly a lot of the pubs have now gone, The Beacon Court, The Westcourt Arms, The Boatswain and Call, The Prince Albert, The Black Lion, The Viscount Hardinge, The Roseneath, The Guznee Fort, The Prince of Guinea, The Prince Alfred, The Green Dragon...... so sad 😞

[@Mitchell4892]

@@johnnyW1966 oh wow, that gave me flashbacks to my childhood. Sad to hear so many of them are gone. I went to "The Old Ash Tree" a fair amount as a kid as it was my father's spot. Stopped going there as I got older due to that very reason and "The Star" became my spot haha. I went to Cricts a fair bit, but only the Rainham one. I didn't often venture out to lower Gillingham. It was either "the top road" as we called the A2, Rainham or Rochester. I remember "The Tudor Rose" though, they used to do a pretty good Sunday roast. Thanks for responding, gave me a bit of a recollection of my youth. Keep safe mate.

[@johnnyW1966]

@Mitch Cheers mate. Everyone still calls it the Top Road too!!

[@shaun-hoppy]

A American friend on a walk noticed a house and asked who lived there, when i said it was a farmhouse, a look of panic crossed his face, and he tried to push through a hedge, I asked what he was doing and he basically said he feared being shot, I had to explain we have the right of way and as long as we don't damage his land it's perfectly OK to be here

[@marshwigglegoth]

Here in Northern Ireland we have a series of connected paths that connects all six counties. It is called The Ulster Way and it is a 636 mile circular route 😊

[@mizzfunkybox10]

In Britain we have the right to pass or the right to roam as it's known, and it's really lovely to walk down the very same paths, the very routes our ancestors have been walking for thousands of years. It's magical but there are some places we can't go, like Military bases that do weapons testing, Nuclear power stations stuff like that, places that are truly dangerous we cant roam. It's about togetherness, sharing the beauty of our country and not assuming everyone is going to damage your property, having trust in each other is much nicer and positive. lots of love from Liverpool xx

[@MrBulky992]

Thd "right to roam" in England and Wales is restricted to certain areas known as "access areas": elsewhere (i.e. most places), if you stray off the line of the footpath, you are trespassing. In Scotland, you have the right to roam to a much greater extent.

[@jennyk488]

We don't have the right to roam anywhere in England & Wales. We do have the right to walk along our Public Footpaths. Scotland which has vast open spaces does have the right to roam.

[@marshall8289]

Take a look at The Ridgeway that starts (or ends) at Avebury, Wiltshire. Some historians believe it is up to seven thousand years old. It passes many ancient sites including iron age hillforts and neolithic barrows. It is truely a historic British footpath.

[@Aloh-od3ef]

Most farmers and private land owners in the UK. Are happy for members of the public to walk through their land. As long as they don’t damage the land, crops are scare the animals. It’s a beneficial relationship. The public gets to enjoy the country. In return, the public will report any issues to the farm or landowners. Such as lost/sick animals and fallen trees blocking a small road 😉

[@andycummings9763]

In the UK English genocide is happening

[@Beldoras]

Live close to a farm and the amount of times cows get out and just start roaming around our housing estate is hilarious, every few weeks i see a post of our FB group with pics 😂

[@blackporscheroadster-yw8hb]

Get orrfff myyy larnd.

[@mitchyboy999]

The footpaths or rights of way existed long before any of the land they run through became private. It’s a chicken and egg thing! My nearest path to me where I take my dog for a walk is called “The dog rose ramble” (cute!) and it goes right through a private golf course. Like I said, the path was there way before it became a golf course!! x

[@timaustin2000]

Indeed, my local golf course has one that goes directly across it. Just cuts it in two. Walk it frequently.

[@75richgarratt]

Probably before the sport of Golf was invented

[@TheWolfmaid]

One reason that there are fewer foot paths/bridleways in Scotland (as you noticed) is not just due to terrain, but because legally you can walk basically anywhere you please in Scotland, whether or not there is a footpath, whether it's a farm or not. So long as you leave it how you find it (i.e don't leave gates open, don't gallop your horse on someone's grass), you're legally okay. I own a farm of sheep and in spring and summer the village children all play in my fields, we have a rope swing up for them. Some people are disrespectful and we have lost a few sheep to irresponsible dog owners, but on the whole I think it's great and support it.

[@GM-wl9mp]

Correct me if I am, but don’t farmer's here in the UK have the right to shoot dogs that aren't on a leash and that they believe are a threat to their live stock.

[@johnkean6852]

Thank you you're my hero ♥️👍⭐🤠🐑🐏

[@WelshAmethystGirl087]

Thays sort of how it is is Wales too, your OK as long as your respectful. Close all gates after you, dont stray too far off the path. Don't trash anything, however that usually goes for local people and children like you say. Most walkers just pass through

[@nbartlett6538]

The really great thing about Scotland is that you also have the right to camp (of course you can't just set up camp in somebody's private garden), which makes it a wonderful place for extended walking expeditions. Sadly there is nowhere in England and Wales where we can do this.

[@WelshAmethystGirl087]

@@nbartlett6538 where I live in Wales you can camp mainly on camping sights but if your out adventuring you can pretty much camp anywhere under the stars. Like if it were just my family going we could just pitch up a tent somewhere and camp with a fire as long as you leave the area as you found it. However you may get questioned etc coz it's not the norm but if you have a camper van you can pretty much park up anywhere and camp. I've done loads of camping in our local forest growing up and it's not an actual sight but we dont trahsfs the place and it's been done by all the locals over the years. Visitors to the area are expected to use our camp sites though

[@AkinyiUniversalLife]

This is actually amazing, seeing y'alls reaction at the beginning when you found out it cuts through private property and having to rewind back and hear it again. Never would have thought that would be such a shocking revelation.

[@Dustpuuppy]

This is partly due to laws in the US. If someone gets hurt while cutting across your land in the US the landowner can be held accountable and liable for any injuries.

[@mand0790]

Here in Scotland, we have gone one step further with the right to roam, which was set out in Section 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. This means that you do not have to stick to OS public footpaths. The right to roam means just that. You can legally walk over farmland, countryside, etc, as long as you leave it as you find it. This would include being responsible, closing gates when you go through them, and not leaving your rubbish behind.

[@lissylissylissy]

I think the best things about these footpaths is how easily accessible they are. I’m sure in the US a lot of people live far away from national parks and designated hiking trails. Here, these footpaths provide somewhere safe to walk away from cars and busy roads, especially for dogs off lead and young children. (Some landowners do have signs requesting dogs be kept on a lead if there is livestock, especially during lambing season) I have many fond memories of long walks with the dog around this beautiful country!

[@juliaforsyth8332]

Dogs should not be off the lead on farmland.

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

We have an incredible abundance of local, state and national parks. Very easily accessible by all!

[@allycbythesea7937]

N and D I’ve always wanted to go to the poppy one in California it looks so beautiful, miles and miles of Californian poppies

[@abarratt8869]

Public footpaths are an absolute right of way, and have been since forever. They're also mapped, so with an Ordnance Survey map (very popular here) you can find them and walk from pub to pub. Some paths do go through people's gardens, though that's fairly unusual. For example David Gilmour of Pink Floyd maintains the public footpath that goes across his garden very nicely. The landowner is supposed to keep it maintained, or at least not obstruct it. Some farmers try to hide the paths across their field and redirect them around the edges, but there is a lot of walkers who are very proactive in pushing back on that. If there's a crop growing on the path, then that's hard luck for the crop.

[@goldencherry9033]

We’ve come across lots of ‘bull in field, enter at your own risk’ signs on the gates into fields with public footpaths across them. Not a bull in sight🤣 But obvs just the landowner trying to stop people without actually saying ‘don’t walk on my land’🤣

[@charlielouise2428]

Our local farmer put huge concrete blocks across all the public footpaths, then got ordered to move them. So he put up bollards, had to take them down. He tried everything, even drilling big holes in the ground and spreading rocks everywhere. He eventually just put up pathetic little signs saying to keep off the footpaths or else, which people keep ripping up.

[@darkraft1020]

There are quite a few in the Yorkshire and Lancashire area that cut through peoples gardens.

[@russcattell955i]

@@charlielouise2428 Yes, my late father would carry wire cutters to maintain ROW.

[@eamonquinn5188]

Nowadays many farmers have gps on their tractors so they don't plant on the footpath

[@stevesoutar3405]

A great reaction ladies - I enjoyed watching you getting your heads around this one - it is cool that we can wander around the countryside like this I think the simplest way to explain these paths is that these ancient footpaths, byways & tracks were there thousands of years before any of the landowners bought their land, When you buy some land which has public footpaths, byways or bridleways (where you can walk or ride horses ) on the map, the landowners are legally obliged to keep these public paths clear of obstructions, so that they are usable by dog walkers, hikers any anyone else. "what if you hurt yourself?" - that's your problem, no-one else's. You can't sue anyone if you have an accident on these paths because the mud was slippery, or you tripped over a bramble - you chose to go there, so watch where you step, and take reasonable care - that's it! - Unless the landowner has been negligent in some way which caused the accident. So, wear walking boots, not town shoes, especially through woodland or hillsides, and take a rainproof coat with you - your man only showed a very easy flat pathway, on a nice dry summers day 🙂 We also have the Ramblers Association (they have a website) who keep detailed records of all those paths you saw - and they arrange for groups of people to keep walking all of these routes, all year round as far as possible, reporting if any have been blocked or left to become overgrown & unusable - partly just for the love & pleasure of walking in the countryside, but also because we (the British people) can only retain these ancient access rights through private woodland and farmland if they can be proven to be still in use - at least once every 5 years I think .... It's based on medieval common law (facts may be a bit wonky - check the Ramblers Association website for the right information about the legal stuff) This common access might date back to the signing of Magna Carta in 1217 by King John (again - check my facts, I may be talking rubbish) - and is probably also related to the Village Common, where villagers can still have the right to graze goats, sheep and other livestock in the green space in the middle of a village

[@catbevis1644]

He didn't say 5000yrs old... he said 5000BC, so 7000yrs old 🙂 Most local areas will have detailed maps of the footpaths at their local tourist office, local library or maybe even the local council offices. The best local maps will detail which are suitable for the less abled, which are suitable for cycling or horse riding, which paths take which length of time to walk so you can plan a day out. Some may also suggest specific routes so you can see areas of interest like historical sites or wildlife along the way. I can remember years ago Madonna tried to get a footpath next to her property closed because photographers were using the path to get pictures of her home. And basically all of Britain was going "ha! Amateur! She should have checked for footpaths BEFORE buying!" lol.

[@Mike-pm9kn]

Local councils are responsible for keeping the paths listed and mapped. A public footpath is open only to walkers, a public bridleway is open to walkers, cyclists and horses.

[@sophieking7508]

We have footpaths everywhere. In my village alone there are about twenty 😂 It’s usually across farmland so the farmer maintains them but sometimes you go through gardens too. We have a footpath behind our garden next to the fields and the dog likes to say hello to all the passing walkers 😄 Can’t imagine not being able to walk wherever I want! You could pick any village and find multiple footpath markers throughout them. It’s great for finding new dog walks too! We also have more well known paths which go for many miles - we are on the Thames Path which goes from the source of the River Thames all the way to London. It’s many miles long and would take over a week to walk the whole thing.

[@vaudevillian7]

There’s a wonderful series Bill Bryson did (American writer from Iowa who has lived in the UK for decades, although did return to the US for a while). It and the book it’s based on are called Notes from a Small Island - I think you’d both really enjoy it

[@paulmidsussex3409]

In most cases it is dog walkers going near herds with calfs. The best thing to do is to keep your dog very close. But if the herd comes at you let go of the lead. You and the dog are much better at getting out of danger if you are not attached.

[@robk5159]

Bill wrote Postcards from a Small Island.

[@vaudevillian7]

@@robk5159 it’s Notes from a Small Island ☺️ he did Notes from a Big Country too when he moved back to the US.

[@robk5159]

@@vaudevillian7 Amaya culpa!....you are correct. Postcards from a small island ( encounters with Britishness) was written by Armando Iannucci ( one of several ) so many great and funny writers, so little time!

[@JohnOConnell]

These ladies HAVE to read Bill Bryson. :-)

[@joeking6749]

we have a footpath across the bottom of our garden and we often get walkers passing by… its always nice and we say hi! we have thousands of paths and some really well known ones, often ancient and you can get around most of the country on foot, and a great way to explore. Often the less trodden paths are overgrown and you have to fight your way through! 😂

[@Chris_GY1]

Public footpaths or bridleway are marked with a wooden sign they can be grassy, muddy or stony footpaths, in Lincolnshire farmers cut through the footpaths where in other parts of the country the footpaths are left untouched. You can walk through farmers fields or round the edge of them, through fields of cows and sheep as well as woods.

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

So cool!!

[@kevinshort3943]

I always feel guilty going through the middle of a field. I guess farmers are too tight to pay to get it re routed.............

[@terrylawler9988]

@@kevinshort3943 I understand farmers are paid by the metre to maintain footpaths through their land. It would be beneficial to them for it to route round the perimeter of the field as the path would be a lot longer, thus more money plus they wouldn't have to pither around keeping the path clear of ploughed furrows or crop. The advantage to the rambler is obvious would you prefer the shorted distance across the field extending the range of your planned hike or spend additional time and wasted distance plodding round the outskirts of a field, no brainer really.

[@grahamsmith9541]

@@kevinshort3943 It is more a case of requiring a legally justifiable need to get it rerouted. Just to move it away from the middle of a field is not a legally acceptable reason.

[@jypwolfbeareagerma6632]

HI Lovely ladies. I am from the UK and public rights of way are a thing , they can go over any type of property except military some even pass over royal household lands. I worked as a gardener for a large ancestral home in the south of the UK and a foot path came directly from the woodland through the rose garden across the front lawns of the house and out across the horse fields. The owner( The current Kings relative!) tried to have it moved and placed on the property line but the request was refused and if he did try to move it he could get an unlimited fine!!. Blocking any public footpath can lead the land owner in serious trouble!!. Great shows, keep them coming. Jyp Wolfbeareagerma

[@JJ-of1ir]

Its not because we are 'small' its because people, for thousands of years, have walked them. Don't forget ladies we Brits like our traditions ... and we like to keep them safe. It means people, families, everywhere in the UK have access to the countryside. Rambling is a British pastime. Loved to see your reactions today. Have a good day.

[@alangauld6079]

I think the "small" point was about our fields. You couldn't walk across some American fields in a day! You can walk across most UK fields in a matter of minutes. Also, the distances between places in the US simply means walking is not an option. But in a small densely populated country like the UK it makes sense to have footpaths connecting things so you can walk (often quicker than getting into the car and driving).

[@philmckenna5709]

@Alan Gauld Practically all these footpaths existed long before cars and driving!

[@alangauld6079]

@@philmckenna5709 Sure, but they survive because they are still used. And it still makes sense to use them because they are faster than driving in many cases. If they aren't used they can get declassified - that's why the RA etc encourage groups to use all the paths. But in the US distances were just too big to walk, you had to use a horse, boat (or later train) to get from A to B.

[@Paul_Allaker8450]

Here in the UK, we have the 'Right to Roam', so if a footpath runs through your land, then the general public has the right to walk it without fear of prosecution of trespass. I've walked hundreds of footpaths across farmland and people's gardens. Great channel, keep up the good work. 👍

[@joshSpencerUK]

There no such thing as trespass in the U.K. even if I walk through your open front door nothing can be done

[@richardgraham4512]

@@joshSpencerUK There are different types of Tresspass. Under British law, entering a property is legal if the owner of said property has extended an invitation to the visitor. However, if that invitation is rescinded (or is allowed to expire) by the owner (or a representative of the owner, such as a staff member or security operative) and the other person subsequently fails to leave, this is trespass. Trespassing can be considered either a crime or a civil wrongdoing (sometimes known as a ‘tort’), depending on the circumstances of the act itself. Trespassing is covered by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, which lists a table of offences related to the act. Trespass alone is a matter of civil law. The law comes down fairly hard on squatters (people who opt to live illegally in someone else’s property). The justification for this lies with the idea that if a person enters a property without the legal right to do so, it is assumed that they are aware that they are behaving illegally. In such cases, trespassers can be sent to prison for a maximum of 51 weeks or find themselves subject to an unlimited fine .

[@ruthholbrook]

Trespass is causing damage to someone's property. If you were to use the right to roam to trample a crop, if you left a gate open and livestock got out, if your dog ran around worrying sheep then you would be liable to prosecution.

[@DirectDemocrat]

​@@joshSpencerUK Nonsense

[@DirectDemocrat]

​@@ruthholbrook Not really....no

[@grahamhills6849]

The whole of the UK is covered by Ordnance Survey. As the name suggests it was originally military, but is now independent. These are of different scales covering different areas, but are incredibly detailed showing all geographic features, gradients of land, and places of interest

[@namelesscynic1616]

I used to work at the Ordinance Survey as they converted maps to digital maps. Based in Southampton, they moved recently from their original building to a new one (still in Southampton). They are effectively civil servants and report to a government Minister.

[@catherinerobilliard7662]

Looking at a map I saw a copse on the edge of a field had a historic landmark symbol. In the copse the farmer had put bales of hay for hikers to rest in the shade. Moving the hay bales aside, there was a Roman mosaic underneath. Enjoyed a brief sojourn, put the hay bales back, walked on.

[@paulmidsussex3409]

The Ordnance Survey used to share a site in West London with General Eisenhower during the second world war. After the war it remained partly a US military building and the OS became civilian. The British civilians used to let the American GIs in through their side of the building when they were late for duty so they could pretend they had arrived on time.

[@mariahoulihan9483]

When in the police, I came out if an address one day to see two men surveying the road. I enquired why, ordinance survey surveyors. This in a London suburb.

[@richardgraham4512]

I've loved looking at Ordnance Survey maps since I was very young. The large scale maps contain fascinating detail about the area not just locations and roads/routes. And are beautifully presented. You can also look back at older editions of these maps and see how an area has changed over time. My favourite is the famous OS orange "Explorers" paper map range; the only maps of Great Britain to display footpaths, car parks, contour lines, campsites, pubs etc.

[@yzolakitchi]

I grew up in a town founded by the Romans and looking on much older maps there was a footpath that was no longer in use but visible as a minor dent in our back garden and those of our neighbours. A couple of our neighbours were lucky enough to find some Roman coins, presumably dropped by people as they walked the paths centuries earlier. I love that you explored this topic. Was hoping he might mention stiles which can be used to climb over awkward access points or hedges that are boundaries of different land owners. As a total aside, I absolutely loved your reactions to the Marmite ads and really think you would love the female sketch show from the late 1990s, SMACK THE PONY. Lots of episodes are up on KZbin. Super funny, sharp humour and great to see ladies making us laugh in such a male dominated occupation! Wishing you both a wonderful week.🥰

[@russellbradley454]

These are legal public rights of Way many of dating back centuries it Its an offence for a landowner to block them.

[@johnkemp8904]

That US-UK treasure Bill Bryson in one of his books remarked upon the statistics of the number of people in the UK who lose their lives each year to angry cattle when walking in fields. Over here it is accepted as a sad downside of our right to go where we wish (within reason) but he pointed out that back in the USA the reaction would simply be ‘Why would I be in a field?’

[@Lily-Bravo]

I walked the Offa's Dyke footpath which runs up the border between England and Wales. It took ten days. Some of the fields in the guide were marked "Permissive" and this meant that the bulls were running with the cows. I came to understand that bulls are made gently by being with the cows and are quite passive and this was the case, and we quite happily walked right by the big beasts while they rested from their endeavours. I am also familiar with walking through fields of bullocks, who are generally curious and will follow you, have herded cows in for milking, but am wary of cows with calves. My mother grew up with cattle and had taught me this, although I have pictures of her sitting in the field with a newborn calf and mother Daisy standing behind. If you have a dog with you it is a different matter.

[@davidbarron4694]

My friend Peter lived in Wales, there was a footpath that went along the edge of the road, down his front driveway, between his house and his barn, across his rear field and off into the woods behind. It was rare for people to use it, but sometimes we would see people walk past his kitchen window.

[@maxmoore9955]

I can walk out my Back door and be on a foot path in 10 minutes that leads to a series of footpaths that can take me into the Derbyshire Peak District. I never stop telling myself how lucky I was Being born in such a Beautiful part of the world, even though I am too old to walk it now. I've done it many a time when my kids were little. They loved it .

[@1961-v9k]

Northeast of England native here. The hubby and me love to travel the UK in our camper van and we love walking. Most of these paths are located right through private farm land otherwise we wouldn’t have access to the beautiful historic walks we love to do. We have great respect for other people’s land and know how to behave and treat this land. The farmers and property owners know this.

[@jimcook1161]

Hi Ladies! Going back to the footpath map, all the routes on that map can be used by walkers. The various names that they are classed under refer to who can or cannot use them. Like I said walkers can use all of the routes. Bridleways can be used by horseriders and cyclists. Unclassified Roads can also be used by horse riders and cyclists and some can also be used by motor vehicles (there may restrictions at certain times of the year, lambing season at sheep farms for example). BOATs (Byway Open to All Traffic) can be used by anyone, motor vehicles included. There are of course exceptions but this is a general rule of thumb.

[@fayesouthall6604]

Very informative

[@tonybennett4159]

If you are a walker, buy Ordnance Survey maps which give detailed footpath trails for particular areas. It's possible to plane circular routes for many days using just one area map.

[@johnbartlett8984]

Many of these footpaths are completely seperated from fields and have hedges on either side. They are often referred to as 'Drovers' paths and were used for moving sheep and cattle to different pastures. I walk such paths in Somerset and it is amazing to think that I am walking in the same place as Saxon and Medieval agricultural labourers, hundreds and even thousands of years before me.

[@t.a.k.palfrey3882]

This presenter is, together with you two of course, the producer of amongst the best video commentaries on a US perspective on Europe. He, his wife and four children, moved to the UK a couple of years ago. They have made videos on aspects of British life, and on family visits to a number of UK cities, events, etc, plus Paris, Barcelona, and even to Namibia and S Africa. It's great to see a family's views on travel. Btw, in addition to tens of thousands of local public footpaths throughout Britain, there are some designated long-distance paths, such as the South Downs Way, and Offa's Dyke Path. Enjoy.

[@njm57]

We are retired and go walking with friends twice a week. We plan a circular route that takes in good views and interesting pieces of history and begin and end at a cafe or pub. It always involve walking over private land and the footpaths are marked with yellow topped wooden posts with an arrow marking the direction to take. There are many stiles to climb over between fields and sometimes nettles and brambles to get through, but it's so exhilarating. Good friends to laugh with as you walk and a nice lunch to finish.

[@blackporscheroadster-yw8hb]

Good for you, most retired folk just sit at home and gawp at Countdown.

[@arthurspils2565]

Feel like you've seen enough in the video and comments explain further, so here's just my fun story: Two paths on the hill above my home, one halfway up and another along the top (which used to be a Roman road, we think). Living there since I was 3, I'd walk along the middle path minimum 3-4 times a week until I was 17 (I'll be 20 in a couple weeks for reference) when we find part of the path which went through a wall into trees blocked up. Bloke who's garden backed onto the trees was saying was private property and had the path moved out of the trees, other side of the wall, which put it right at the side of a golf course fairway. We ignore this and just climb over, took about 4 days for someone to knock through what he'd filled in.

[@bobspree]

Footpath facts • England and Wales have 180,000 miles of public rights of way in their network • Britain has 91,000 miles of footpaths, 20,000 miles of bridleways, 2,300 miles of byways and 3,700 miles of restricted byways • In England and Wales, a public footpath is a path on which the public has a legally protected right to travel on foot. In some areas, public footpaths form a dense network of short paths. Most footpaths in the countryside are probably hundreds of years old. The majority of footpaths are shown on Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 maps. • The right of access to a public footpath normally only extends to walking (there may be other unrecorded rights as well), so there is usually no right to cycle or ride a horse on a public footpath. However, it is not a criminal offence to do so unless there is a traffic order or bylaw in place specifically: it is a civil wrong to ride a bicycle or a horse on a public footpath, and action could be taken by the landowner for trespass or nuisance by the user. Keep public rights of way clear of obstructions! As the owner or occupier of land with a public right of way across it, you must: • avoid putting obstructions on or across the route, such as permanent or temporary fences, walls, hedgerows, padlocked gates or barbed wire • make sure vegetation does not encroach onto the route from the sides or above, bearing in mind the different clearances needed for users of different types of routes, for example by horse riders Obstructing a public right of way is a criminal offence. The highway authority has the right to demand you remove any obstruction you cause. If you don’t, the highway authority can remove the obstruction and recover the cost from you.

[@villainousreport9600]

I have a historic footpath bordering my property, it's goes through private and public land in town and country areas for miles and is walked by many people every day. I use it daily for walks to my local pub and shops.

[@brianwhittington5086]

Not far from me is an exclusive estate of houses where the developer had to maintain a public footpath route. It zig zags between gardens and screened by six feet high fencing. It links the main road and a pub, to farmland that was once a famous training stables and a private racetrack owned by the local Earl.

[@carlchapman4053]

I believe that no one had actually said that the footpaths have NEVER gone through private property but that the land was bought and developed AFTER there was a known footpath, so the person buying the land and developing it was always aware of the public right of way and every subsequent owner has been bound by the original rights of that land. Also many property owners will mark a path around the edge of their property and put up a sign asking walkers to use the marked path, there is no legal reason to do so but good manners in England means that usually we would walk around the field rather than across it.

[@TheExpatpom]

It is so different and I love the wait-what reactions Americans so often get when they hear that footpaths crossing private land is pretty common, because it does sound weird until someone tells you how truly ancient some of those paths are. The oldest of them will have been in use long before anyone farmed there. That in itself probably isn’t unusual. Ancient people have been making paths and tracks since forever, and here in Australia there are ancient tracks used by First Nations people as trade routes and so on, and I’m sure the same is true in the Americas. The difference in the UK, and particularly England & Wales, is the place is small enough that people kept using them even as parts of the land transitioned from free to common to private, because often it was just a pain in the arse to go a different way from the route everyone had used for centuries.

[@darthwiizius]

Yup, some of these paths in England first came into being as the country was repopulated during the last ice age but we have little to no trace of those ancients, we only have strong evidence of the neolithic folk up to 7000 years ago (meaning we're missing 4-5000 years) and then only because of the explosion in stone monuments and henges, market sites (there's a 4000 year old market still operating 4 miles from my house, predating Greece let alone Rome) etc and of course their safe routes to travel between them, their settlements, hunting grounds, foraging sites etc. Not a huge timespan compared to aboriginal Australians but pretty long for a place that was under a kilometre of ice for 2.5 million years.

[@pauldootson7889]

Some American friends of mine visited and were amazed at how winding our roads are and asked why we didn't just build them straight they'd be so much easier to drive on, they were overawed when I explained that a lot of our roads follow ancient byways and paths that have been in use for thousands of years some predating jesus, and back then you just took the path of least resistance you couldn't bulldoze the land flat, fill in ponds, or cut down swathes of woodland you just wen't round it, they were constantly amazed by the sheer history that it made me realise how oblivious to being surrounded by so much of it i'd become, for instance i took them the local for sunday dinner and one of them noticed the date stone above the door reading 1783 they were stunned and entered the pub with a reverance i'd certainly never paid my local when i told them how it used to be used as the local courthouse and a man had been sentenced to death and hung outside they were ready to pay the landlord for the privilege of being let in much to the amusement of those propping the bar up, to them it was a tourist attraction to me it was somewhere i fell out of late at night

[@robbie_]

@@pauldootson7889 We do have some very straight roads though (a lot of "A" roads), which are basically the old Roman roads.

[@russellbradley454]

Think the use of the word common 9:12 it up Common land

[@russellbradley454]

Sums it up ! Flaming predictive texting 😮

[@brianberry1931]

A favourite pastime of ours and many others, is to take a country walk using footpaths. When visiting a particularly interesting locality we stop by the tourist information office and obtain a leaflet describing local footpath routes. Many are circular, starting and finishing in a pub car park. The leaflet describes the routes and points out things to look out for. Eg: Follow footpath sign to (names), after half mile cross the stile on your left and follow the path by the stream until you get to a stone barn, then take the path on the right, which is part of an old drovers’ trail. The farm you can see was once an inn, proving food and shelter for the Cattle drovers. Look out for the ruins of an old church…..etc. What better way to spend an afternoon on a nice day? The pub where you left the car is a welcome sight on your return!

[@Nettietwixt]

One aspect is that fields in the past were smaller so each of those massive fields would have likely been many fields at one point. The path might have run along features like hedges that aren't there any more. They get ripped out to accommodate modern farming machinery. The usage of land has obviously changed a lot over such a long period of time. Houses are also built in sites that were previously fields so they gain the footpaths. You might also want to look into Green Lanes which were lanes that connected places together and were used for taking animals to market. They've kind of got taken over by people doing 4wd antics but they're another aspect of the footpath history.

[@mayajrj]

Not entirely, It was an EU thing as well,(out fields were too small and uneconomic) because of it, the UK lost ancient hedgerows, drystone walls which caused a massive loss of habitat for countless varieties of small animals and birds. In mainland Europe people were allowed open season on certain birds which were shot as delicacies. The whole thing really buggered up the eco-system and then the 'Experts' decided that they were wrong. Too bloody late, the damage was done

[@iainmartin1757]

@@mayajrj You are wrong. The destruction of hedges and dry stone walls long predates us joining the EU in 1974. It set in with a vengeance in WW2 when we needed to grow as much food as possible and continued after the war. Nothing to do with the EU.

[@liamcharles2190]

I have one going through my garden. Most people are lovely and treat the path with respect.

[@Pu1gcerda1]

In the UK the South West Coast Path is the longest national trail in the country. It stretches from Minehead in Somerset across the coast of Exmoor to Penzance before looping east, finishing at Poole Harbour in Dorset. It is 630 miles long

[@sidrat2009]

I wish I could bump this up as I live in the South West and didn't know this. Now that I do know this I'm still not travelling over 600 miles although it would be beautiful and cider fuelled for some parts and ale for the rest. Still a hearty no.

[@Cloggieclover]

Jurassic coast rain supreme! ;)

[@johntomlinson6849]

A friend of mine walked the entire lengh in stages of 3-4 days, twice a year, over several years.

[@raymondberry9482]

You two have become my essential Saturday morning viewing. I get up early (before my other half gets up and starts demanding I take him shopping) make my tea and sit a watch The Natasha and Debbie show. Thank you ladies xxx

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

That's so cool! Thank you so much ♥️

[@Bueno-82]

Absolutely a thing, here in Cheshire, we have some of the most stunning walks through fields full of horses, sheep and cows. When I first moved here, it was hard to accept that I could just traipse through these fields

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

Would love a video on that!!

[@Bueno-82]

Couldn’t comment on it, never heard of such a place

[@Bueno-82]

Oh you mean Lancashire, yeah I know it well. Haha, billionaire, you’re absolutely hilarious. Have you ever thought about being a comedian? You’d be great!

[@debbiem7337]

I live in Cheshire it's been ruined by all the celebs and footballers! Give me Yorkshire or Lancashire any day.

[@paulmiller570]

@cyberash3000 Stuck up? Im from Warrington Cheshire and we're far from it haha

[@whishywashy1]

There are approx 300,000+ km of ancient,road, footpath and bridle ways with in the UK. There is also a country code to follow and the National trust who help look after these along with farmers and volunteers. You can pretty much walk around the entire coastline of the UK. Would take a while but. Plenty of places to stop off and stay. We are an amazing place to visit stay and live! Come see us and bring your hiking boots. 😃

[@ianwilkinson8664]

I remember visiting my grandparents and they had a footpath running past their property known locally as the Roman Road because that was how old the footpath was.

[@fayesouthall6604]

I live near an old Roman settlement, there are Roman paths all around!

[@tonyorome]

The maps you should be looking for are the Ordnance Survey maps they will give you every footpath, bridleway and any other rights of way. They are not just a map , they are a thing of beauty

[@staceyrowell9023]

Sad they are so expensive now since the invention of sat navs.

[@jennyk488]

@@staceyrowell9023 Look for them in charity shops.

[@nickydaniels1476]

I realised watching this that I take foot paths for granted. I've walked them my whole life and never thought about where they came from. Do people in the US really sue each other for trespassing??? Mind blown 🤯 Also... when you zoomed in on the map, I'm pretty sure I saw the street I live on 🤣

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

Well private property is in fact, private. In very rural areas where there are no trespassing signs, say on an old man's farm in the backwoods of West Virginia...he can legally shoot you for being on his property. Now, that's not exactly common and worse case scenario, obviously. But most places you would walk around here would be local, State and National parks anyway. So no need to walk through someone else's land. Again we gave "footpaths" just not through personal property.

[@nickydaniels1476]

@The Natasha & Debbie Show I think I was as surprised as you when I watched this but for the opposite reason. You are right, though, the word private is not open for interpretation xxx

[@barneylaurance1865]

@@TheNatashaDebbieShow Surely it can't be true that a landowner can legally shoot you just for trespassing, can it? Do you have any examples? I see that West Virginia has a Stand Your Ground Law, but it looks like that only means the landowner can shoot you to defend themselves from violent crime. Trespassing can't be classed as a violent crime, can it?

[@anthonywarden6377]

There’s a footpath outside Boscastle in Cornwall that take you to the rear entrance of the local pub.

[@andrewfitzgerald2327]

Good video ladies, the chap who presented it lives here with his family and children. In fact they announced they are expecting number 4,a few weeks ago. Foot paths do go through private property, when purchasing a house a covenant will be in the deeds. Our house was built in 1840 and has an acre of woodland.the path was used to heard animals to market. At the edge of the wood about six feet in, the pennine way goes through it adjoining a fenced farm. All we ask is that people respect our privacy and warning that the dog's will bark at them and not to drop litter.

[@CowmanUK]

Isn't it a privilege to be a part of the history of such a place? If I owned a property such as that I'd be proud to be a recorded part of that rich history, and proud when people pass through, just as long as they are respectful.

[@botticellirejectbotticelli2668]

They’re having twins!

[@andrewfitzgerald2327]

@@botticellirejectbotticelli2668 like you l didn't know at the time, whatever the best of luck. Having two sets of twins in our family l hope they're ready.

[@michaelmillett8724]

Great video and great reaction. One of the things we Brits are really good at is map making. The official maps are the ordnance survey maps and these show footpaths, bridleways and green ways. Bridleways are for horses and cyclists as well as walkérs and greenways Include motor vehicles.

[@kumasenlac5504]

The age, and persistence, of features in the British landscape is quite remarkable. I remember watching a TV programme about aerial archaeology some years ago. The view was from a light aircraft flying across the Vale of York. The obvious detail was the arrow-straight main road - The Great North Road. This legacy of the Roman occupation cut through fields whose stone walls aligned on each side of the road. The field boundaries pre-dated the Romans and still survived today...

[@RabbitTeaPot]

I’m subscribing to you guys, one cause you seem lovely but two because I’m learning some weird yet interesting shit about my own country through your inquisitive dispositions ❤

[@stephensmith4480]

Like this Gentleman said, some of the Footpaths are thousands of years old. As well as Farmers being responsible for certain aspects of the pathway that crosses their land, The National Trust is also involved in the upkeep of these wonderful walking routes.

[@spyroXcynder1000]

To clear up a few questions you had: 1) The footpaths are "set in stone" so to speak. They are publicly, privately, and governmentally protected walkways and the Government has the most up-to-date, publicly accessible, recordings of these footpaths. This is to help keep them clear when planners and builders are developing an area. 2) Not only do they cut through farmland, they cut through private estates. They do not cut through people's back or front yards and gardens unless the gardens are part of those large private estates. Planners and builders will back the private property's gardens right up against these walkways, leaving only a wall or fence to separate the yards from the paths. 3) Many of these paths are just dirt or gravel, but some are paved. Many roadways and highways have been built along these footpaths, so as to keep the right of travel for pedestrians, you might often see footpaths butting right up alongside the roads. 4) Highways (mainly outside of cities and more to the north of England) may be arterial roads, but you can cycle/walk along many of them as a lot of them were built upon or near the footpaths. It's motorways that completely ban it. So it's not too uncommon to see footpaths (usually without barriers) butting up alongside 60-70mph roads. Some even have bus stops for people to get off and walk along them, but they'll be on the slip roads or a protected siding - somewhere people can park to rest or sleep, normally has a median as a barrier from the highway road. 5) It should go without saying that these footpaths are maintained, in some degree, by the people who use it. It's up to everyone to help keep them tidy. This can be done by holding onto, picking up, and putting rubbish in the bin, or reporting issues (like damaged pavements, overgrown plants, and path edgework that helps keep the paths clear and wide for passing dog walkers, cyclists, or other pedestrians) to the council in charge of maintaining the parts of the path that don't cut through private properties.

[@camerachica73]

There's an 'OS map' app that has all the main footpaths and bridleways I think (bridleways can have horses) which is cool. When you buy a property, there's paperwork that comes with it that says whether there's a public right of way on your land, so you won't just buy somewhere and find strangers walking past your kitchen window!

[@kumasenlac5504]

To avoid all the fuss of paperwork the Scots have a system of universal access - the right to roam. Obviously it restricts access to homes and gardens and business/military premises but is otherwise absolute. The usual rules apply - take only photos and litter, leave only memories. Some more remote places have bothies - derelict farm buildings re-purposed as shelters for walkers and cyclists. The cost is minimal - chop firewood, tidy (or repair) the bothy, fetch water...

[@jeanniewarken5822]

This is what a free country really looks like

[@markborder906]

Years ago my parents had a footpath ran along one side of the garden. They had a number if aviaries , one of which housed a Myna bird. Whenever he saw someone walking the path he would call out “hello”. We would see lots of people peering through the hedge trying to see who they were talking to, until we went over and enlightened them. Great fun.

[@Ionabrodie69]

My grandparents had a Mynah bird called Peter…he used to sit on a wooden perch in the kitchen of the farmhouse..when people knocked on the door. ( on the rare occasion it was shut ) he would shout “ come in..sit down “ in my grandmothers voice ..he was an excellent mimic.. 😂

[@markborder906]

@@Ionabrodie69 My mother had a particular call for the dog, the Myna copied that but it only fooled the dog a couple of times before she learnt the difference. I could never hear the difference though.

[@RTGrain]

A lot of the footpaths in the towns will be back alleys which allow rear access to houses into gardens and can connect for some distances going across roads and are often shortcuts to major parks or, like the one I used to get to my local football stadium on a Saturday afternoon to see my team play. A lot of footpaths connect villages which is why they cut through fields. The law allows walkers to walk through growing crops and forbids landowners from placing obstacles across the routes which is why there are often stiles which are easy to climb over and often have a signpost saying where they are heading to. The Ordnance Survey maps show footpaths and bridleways depending on their scales. You can access these through major bookshops and libraries. I bought one when I went up Ben Nevis and walked a dotted line to avoid a lot of walking downstairs

[@nicholasgarratt5646]

My Dad had a public footpath right across his back garden. There was also one right behind the back of my Garden in my old house but I did have a dividing fence across the garden. I used to walk my dog on footpaths around fields. They have signed posts showing directions. There was a footpath right across one of the fields.

[@paulskeet9001]

Housing estates for regular people are generally planned around public footpaths so the right of way doesn't run through peoples gardens. Large private estates can have footpaths running through them (generally not close to the house) and have to be left accessable to the public. Some footpaths can run through a farm yard and close to the farmers house

[@vaudevillian7]

I use footpaths all the time around me as I walk everywhere, there’s so many (along with bridleways for horses) the right to roam is an ancient one that we have to fight to keep

[@paulmidsussex3409]

The bridleways are more for riders than horses.

[@ChristopherEggleton1975]

When you mentioned residential homes. It is slightly different. Most homes will not have a public footpath right through their property, but in many old villages you might find some houses have gates through their back gardens one to another and this is typically because many very old village properties have "barrow" access as a stipulation in the Freehold.

[@peterjackson4763]

My house is less than 50 years old. My neighbours have access through part of my front garden and I have access through their back garden. They don't have a right of access through my back garden but frequently cross it to take their bins out. I don't mind as they take my bins out at the same time.

[@astockley9786]

Hi guys “footpaths” RIGHT OF WAY the pathways were for people to go from place to place in the days when you had to WALK everywhere or ride a horse some get overgrown but there is a group called the rambler’s association that make sure farmers respect the footpaths and not plough them up love you guys best regards Andy from Felixstowe suffolk UK.

[@memkiii]

Just to be clear, with paths crossing a farmers field, like the one in the video, the farmer *is* allowed to plough it up to plant his crop, otherwise it would be very difficult for him. The footpath is reinstated - sometimes by him, but usually just by the footfall of people who use it. One like this where I used to live was usually ploughed up - (for rapeseed incidentally), and was very quickly trampled back down after a few days. Also worth noting that not all public footpaths are "Rights of Way". Many are "Permissive", where the landowner grants permission to use them, but this could be withdrawn. A typical example of this might be the paths through a shopping centre, a local park or a bit of managed woodland.

[@helenmohammed2518]

Where I live there is a footpath that runs through the middle of a rugby pitch, technically you could just walk across in the middle of a game but nobody would, there is also one that runs through a university campus.

[@craftyclaira]

Every year we have hundreds of new books for 'Pub Walks across Britain'- these give you many routes circular and linear to explore old footpaths/walks across fields, valleys, hills and through aged Estates, orchards, riversides, past Cottages and Castles en route to a pub. After 2 , 12 , 20 or however many miles you walk you can then eat a hearty pub meal and have a pint. These pub walk guides take you through numerous private lands and ancient walking routes. Its a very popular spring and summer activity across our beautiful British countryside!

[@allycbythesea7937]

One of my favorite things to do. I can only get my husband to tag along “ if there’s a pub at the end”!

[@tom-mo2pd]

They’re public footpaths. They’re. Sign posted and you can walk on them no problem. They cover the entire country all across the countryside. Very nice to go for a walk through the fields

[@lokki245]

Many / most of these footpaths have been used hundreds, sometimes thousands, of years. They predate land ownership (as we know it now) so the right of way was established. We lost hundreds of these paths in the last few hundred years but those that remain are now legally protected.

[@grapeman63]

The public footpaths are not as well used as they ought to be. They are used extensively during the week by lone and dog walkers but really come into their own at the weekends when they are used by kids doing their Duke of Edinburgh Awards and by Ramblers and other hiking clubs of which there are hundreds, if not thousands. The beauty of having so many footpaths is that you can plan a route of X miles from where you parked your car - usually terminating at a country pub - and then return by a completely different route. Not only will the return route be different, but so too will be the terrain, the gradients, the woodlands, the views, the villages and the historic points of interest. Enough to keep you fully engaged for the entire day! As you rightly pointed out, there are not just public footpaths in the UK but also bridle paths, permissive paths and bye-ways (both ancient and modern). All are open to walkers. A bridle way, as the name suggests, is also open to horseriders. A permissive path is a modern path across private land where the landowner has agreed to put aside the land that it traverses and make it available for use by the general public. A bye-way is open to all non-motorised traffic. Perhaps the oldest bye-way in England is the Ridgeway which mostly follows the ridge from near Avebury in Wiltshire to Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire. It also sports two more modern extensions, one at either end. The Wessex Ridgeway runs from near Avebury to the Dorset seaside resort of Lyme Regis while the Icknield Way runs from Ivinghoe Beacon to Knettishall in Cambridgeshire [correction: Suffolk] where it joins the Roman Peddars Way and turns north to reach the North Norfolk coast near Hunstanton. In all 363 miles. And this is by no means the longest route in England. It is actually possible to walk the entire 7,500 mile coastline of Great Britain using the network of interlocking public rights of way.

[@pennydoyle8166]

There is a series presented by Sir Tony Robinson where he walks you along different ancient paths and you meet many interesting people along the who tell you anecdotes and stories of what/who used the path down through history. Really,really interesting and of course the varied views,sometimes from hilltops,sometimes along shoreline cliffs and even in towns,you get to see Britain.and learn some history too!!

[@blackporscheroadster-yw8hb]

Ancient tales of how the Ploughman's Lunch has changed over the centuries.

[@billcoley6561]

Love your show, my country has so much to offer you in history it will keep busy for years. Look forward to next Episode.

[@christinealston478]

Footpaths can be anywhere, not just in farmers' fields. They can appear in people's gardens, my son and daughter-in-law have a public foot path along their garden. They are responsible for keeping it tidy and ensuring the hedges are trimmed regularly. I love watching your shows, keep up the excellent work. Take care, From a Devon maid in the UK

[@mathewchattaway172]

Great to see your reaction to this, always amazed by how surprised Americans are to this basic taken for granted right. One small point American history didn't begin with the arrival of Europeans a few hundred years ago. People have lived across North America for thousands of years, and I'm sure had paths and tracks across great swathes of it. That is until ranchers arrived, put up a fence and said mine, no one is allowed to walk or ride here anymore!

[@nickname6747]

Thank you so much for uploading this one guys, so beautiful! I'm getting stirring feelings of patriotism, usually surpressed from being stoic and Northern. 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇦😎😁👍

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

Leave it to us Americans, we'll bring that patriotism out! Much love to you ♥️

[@andycummings9763]

In the UK English genocide is happening 70% of robberis in Briain are by blacks google it the UK promote islam & blacks daily lmfao

[@iannorton2253]

Hi Natasha and Debbie. I've really enjoyed watching your videos over the last few days since discovering your channel and subscribing. Something I want to emphasise - and you've seen the map of the footpath network - is how varied and extensive this network is. I'm a member of a hiking club, so use such footpaths a lot. They often go across farmers' fields (even those with livestock in them - beware of the bull!), through farmyards and even across people's back lawns. If you buy a property you will be made aware prior to purchase of any footpaths and public right of way across your property and have to accept this as a legally binding condition. There are occasional disputes about right of way. Anyone who uses these footpaths is expected to follow the 'country code', which says that you must respect the landowner's property by such actions as keeping to the designated pathway, not leaving litter or causing any damage, closing gates after you, and keeping dogs on a lead so they don't harass the livestock (a farmer has a right to shoot your dog if it is out of control and causes distress or injury to farm animals). Sometimes the pathway across isn't that clearly discernable, so it also requires using a bit of common sense in deciding which route to take. Deliberately straying off or being intrusive might be considered trespass, but most people follow the rules. In answer to your question as to whether footpaths only cross farmland, the answer is no; there are thousands of designated footpaths that go through cities, towns and villages, but usually between or along the backs of houses. It makes traversing anywhere in the UK by walking a whole lot easier and more interesting, knowing that there are so many ways to take shortcuts by using the footpaths.

[@shmupperfromhell]

The "right to roam" laws in the UK date back 100's (thousands if you want to get into the nitty gritty) of years and everyone has to abide by them. If a public path cuts through your property, which is very common on farmland then it must be maintained and kept accessible. Essentially no one can own the footpaths and they must be available to all peoples, at all times.

[@patallinson9540]

I live in Yorkshire in the UK and have many public paths that cuts across private land . You will a signs that will tell you if you can walk across , if I don't see a sign or I am sure I don't go on the land .

[@krissyg7026]

I love this families channel. They are having such an adventure living here, and loving it.

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

Our first time seeing this channel

[@dhar6015]

They're a fab family, and they are having a new baby. It will be there first over here in the UK, I'm excited to follow their journey.

[@jillosler9353]

@@TheNatashaDebbieShow Husband, wife and children who moved to live in England a few years ago. He started his KZbin channel to record his journey here and to show the differences he has found. Well worth having a deeper look into his channel to get a feel how an American feels about living somewhere totally different to what he had known.

[@vaudevillian7]

Definitely agree, they’re great and make really good videos

[@carolineb3527]

They live not far from me and the twins are going to be born in the town where I live - I may have to stand outside the hospital with a sign saying "Welcome to our KZbin babies" 😁

[@peterhetherington914]

Uk landowners honour paths that people have used for hundreds of years, these paths were those trodden by people going to and from villages and towns, or to visit or attend markets.

[@joshualiley]

No, public footpaths are not just restricted to fields, I have occasionally been through someone's back/front garden on a public footpath. However, this is rare, since I think when the houses were built, people already knew about the footpaths they had to deal with. Also, this only really happens for houses on the edge of a village, when the footpath goes from the village into the countryside (from my experience), and will for example cut the corner off someone's garden or go directly round the side of their house. I've never seen it go through more than one person's house at a time. Of course, there are a few basic (common sense) rules you should follow: 1) Always stick to the path that was marked out. If it hasn't been well maintained and it's not really possible to tell where the path is, either make a best guess, or follow the edge of the field. This especially holds true for crop fields. 2) Leave gates as you find them. If they're open when you came, leave them open, if they're closed when you came, shut them behind you. Especially true for animal fields. 3) No littering. 4) Be respectful of noise levels. This is someone's private property, if it's massive, they may not hear you if you're being loud, but there's still nature around that you shouldn't disturb. 5) Don't camp unless you're in a designated area. If you do camp, leave no trace that you actually did

[@jamesaston2031]

That footpath map is really cool. I can't believe we have so many! I always learn something when I watch your videos

[@brianfallon2607]

Sort of funny story; my daughter was staying in a very rural area in Oxfordshire and I went to visit her. I got a bit lost driving back home and turned on my sat nav. It took me down a bridle path or some kind of walking path at one point. It was just wide enough for my small car. It must have happened to other people because the walkers and riders just laughed and shrugged their shoulders. Btw, I'm from NYC originally and love going for walks along footpaths in the beautiful county of Surrey. My son and his wife own a share of a farm in the Cotswolds where they walk across fields to get to the village pub. It's just a normal part of life.

[@redf7209]

A reason why driverless cars will never take off in UK.

[@godot-whatyouvebeenwaitingfor]

Footpaths are older, have been there longer, than the current landowners so ANYONE can walk them..

[@Buzpud]

Sometimes they go through the middle of farm yards and it can be tricky to work out where exactly the footpath runs but you are fully allowed to walk through. There are plenty in towns and cities that allow quicker pedestrians access to locations than if you had to follow the roads. They are used all the time for just running errands, visiting the pub or friends, walking dogs etc. In the countryside our local paths are constantly in use. Our National trails also make use of these laws to let walkers go through private land. I’m currently walking the south west coast path (630 miles) and I often think how lucky we are to have the access. Otherwise only landowners would be able to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

[@richardgraham4512]

Yes this is true. I live in the Chiltern Hills, NE of London, designated an area of "Outsanding Natural Beauty" with lots of footpaths, "bridleways" (routes which can be legally used by horse riders in addition to walkers) and lots of walkers. Friends of mine had a farm and a footpath ran right through the farmyard between the buildings. It was quite common to see complete strangers walking through. 🙂

[@user-ky6vw5up9m]

In England There are public footpaths which cross airfield runways, also the Prime Minister’s country residence has a public footpath through the ground, Scotland has slightly different (more liberal) walking laws.

[@vaudevillian7]

Important to add they’re not all necessarily historical paths, but they date back to the concept of common shared land, whereas in the era that the US was founded private property was so key, it was tied to ability to vote (as it was in the UK too) and so forth These paths really are everywhere

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

That is very helpful, thank you

[@peterdorrington3755]

Hi Natasha and Debbie, I am another Brit loving the show. To add to some of the comments below, we enjoy thousands of miles of footpaths, bridleways and rights of way (my favourite is the Test Way in Mampshire). Yes, some paths do go through personal properties, but not usually through normal domestic gardens. As to the right to roam, it isn't absolute, but many landowners are pretty good about allowing access. That said, we have the 'Countryside Code' that explains some of the things to do / not do when out and about on foot; for example, closing gates behind you, keeping dogs on leads near livestock, and so on - a small price to pay to get out and enjoy our wonderful countryside. By the way, some of those hedges are as old as the paths, marking property boundaries that go back hundreds of years and the have their own little ecosystems.

[@nigelleyland166]

Public rights of way in the UK, not only do we have foot paths across farmlands and moorlands but sometimes across domestic property! Furthremore we also have vehicular rights of ways collectively known as Green Lanes where one can drive across often ancient droving lanes and are predominently on higher ground. Usually requiring four wheel drive autos, some being very challenging to navigate. The Old Coach Road in Cumbria for instance at it's highest piont offers veiws to the east half way back to the coast and to the west one can see the Irish Sea. I have driven a Green Lane which starts in the very north of England crosses the boarder into Scotland loops around a village and back to England. It starts in farmland on grassy fields transits to moorland where often a wild stag may watch you passing without concern, orbits a village and then returns to English pastures. Others maybe muddy or rocky whilst some are sandy and indead only passable at low tide !

[@Obi-J]

We have several old green lanes here in E.Yorkshire, one runs across my neighbours land.

[@mossyman65]

When ever i have had a bad day you two never fail in cheering me up, so thank you 🤗

[@stephendisraeli1143]

The historical background is that footpaths developed as "rights of way" so that local residents could go about their daily business, iin the absence of pathways being set aside as public land. Then modern campaigners got them registered and turned into a recreational network for urban hiking enthusiasts.