25th September - Wentwood with added landowner confrontation.

Today’s walk ending up being quite a learning experience of the legal kind. We don’t ramble or do any of that right to roam stuff but I am a firm believer in Public Rights of Way and their sanctity. All of our walks are along Public Rights of Way and I never plan a walk which would cross privately owned ground that doesn’t contain one. This walk was no exception but a certain land owner decided he knew better.

Walking down the freshly trimmed road.

Our walk started from a car park we have used before, Wentwood main car park just north of Newport. As the leaves are starting to turn, woodland walks become all the more spectacular. We set off North out of the car park down the hill. After a few minutes we came across a lady who informed us that her Labrador, which was wagging its tail and barking in high pitched excitement whilst pulling on her lead in the direction of Chuck, was in fact scared of German Shepherds and that was why she was being held back. It really makes me sad when dogs aren’t allowed to play because their owners have no common sense or understanding of their dog’s behaviour. I’m sure they would have had a blast together.

It was a dark brooding day but still very beautiful.

We dropped out of the woods and continued along a small road towards Barn Farm. It always pays to look behind you as well as ahead. In this instance it was because we saw a field full of alpaca. They announced our presence with some fantastic calls which can be heard in this video. Chuck was fascinated and continued to watch them from the gate as we picked berries just down the road. We headed past the farm on a byway. These are usually ancient roads rather than footpaths which cross between fields. They are often wider than footpaths and are a great way of getting about. Each usually has its own set of local bylaws so check with you local authority what you can and can’t drive or ride down them.

A bit of foraging for hedge food.

In a field next to the byway two rather charming donkeys came trotting over to us. They were very affectionate and playful. Chuck was play barking at them and they seemed very interested in each other. I’m sure they’d have happily spent hours chasing each other around if they weren’t separated by a gate. The donkeys loved a good nose rub and watched us walk off until we were out of sight.

Chuck demonstrating his right to use a public byway.

Our next byway took us into a large estate and it was here that our trouble started. The landowner drove out and informed us we were not allowed to bring a dog onto their land. I retorted that we were on a public footpath. A second person informed us that the law allowed us onto the path but not to bring a dog regardless of whether or not he was on a lead. He said it was illegal to take a dog onto any farmland at all. As we had Chuck with us and his safety is our number one priority we left despite being sure we were in the right. The incident had somewhat spoiled what up to now had been a delightful autumn stroll.

Chuck is super happy meeting the big grey doggies.

We have reported the landowner to the local authority and they have informed us we were very much within our rights to be there regardless of whether or not we had a dog with us and they have reported the landowner to the highways enforcement officer. I would recommend if the same happens to you to warn the landowner you will do the same if they insist upon you leaving and see if they back down. It is quite a serious offence to prohibit someone from using a path. Has this or anything similar ever happened to you? Let us know in the comments below.