Ramblers law

[vicki2]

With the new ramblers laws in effect this summer, I am already experiencing people just walking into my garden as if they have the right.
Apparently, if they are outside 250 yards from the structure, they have a right even though they have opened two closed gates to get there.

Anyone else dealing with this?

[OneofaKind]

I don't have a big enough "garden" to have this problem, but I must say it feels like an invasion of privacy to me.

[Belson17]

Dumb question: What is Ramblers law?

[vicki2]

It's a sort of new 'take' on the old ability to walk anywhere you feel like in the UK. Groups of 'ramblers' or hikers, walkers, etc. managed to extend some already existing rights of passage on private property.

In many ways, it's an old rule which was nice because you could just strike out walking and go across country directly from A to B. There were some rules about it, but now those few rules have all but been eliminated in favor of ramblers.

The downside for farmers, etc. is that you can't ask someone off your property without a huge reason, and you find gates left open, cattle loose, ramblers dogs chasing livestock, gardens invaded etc. ...and you can't say a lot. It's sort of a rights issue gone awry.

[Belson17]

Wow that stinks. In the US, private property is private property. In the UK, is it a national law or does it vary depending on the locality?

[vicki2]

I know it sucks ..especially as an American who is used to no trespassing on private property. A bit hard for me to get used to.

It's a national thing. There's always been sort of an unspoken rule that it was okay to cut across, but this 'law' so to speak has really upset farmers and larger estate owners. It isn't the custom here to put up no trespassing signs as it seems to just invite more than prohibit people. So, as it is now, I take my dogs for a walk on the estate and I can run smack dab into some one with a pair of off leash rottweilers ...so suddenly, what you thought was private is shared with whoever!

I can't see this happening in America and for good reason too!

[Belson17]

In the US mainland there are private beaches. I know in Bermuda and Hawaii all beaches are public and all property is private so many people have to sneak across private property to get to the beach. Either that or go by boat.

[vicki2]

It's been a huge controversy in Malibu where so much of that beach is private, yet you can actually enter if from either end ...beyond the private properties which line the highway. There are always arguments!

[Belson17]

I was just in Hawaii and in Maui so many homes have huge dogs to prevent people going through their property to enter the beach....And it worked!

[vicki2]

Dogs would work, that's true!

Here, I think it's one of those problems due to being 'too civilized'. While most people who walk across your property are just going from a to b and nice about it, you get the odd one who causes problems. I guess they figure here that it's rare, but I sure do prefer to know I can sit in my garden without thinking someone might tap me on the shoulder! LOL.