Hello, I’m brand new to forums so I thought I better mention that first.
I have joined this forum due to having a lot of difficulty with the bad maintenance of my local footpaths and right of ways etc..
I do lot of walking and photography and my area is totally rural, I’m surrounded my moorland and rough countryside, which just about everywhere is or “ used to be “ accessible by the little yellow arrow square signs that should be nailed on the top corner of the stile that you climb over into the fields or fenced off area that you can cross to walk the path ahead.
But recently I have noticed that a lot of places I walked as a youngster have either not got signs any more.. and some places of entry are just a big field gate for tractors etc. so I am a nervous wreck when wanting to get from A to B so to speak due to the fact that I could be trespassing.
A lot of the land owners can be really aggressive and I have been approached by quad bikes and 4x4 vehicles at high speed with Gamekeepers and Farmers yelling at me asking “ what are you up to etc “ ..
I only use a normal mobile phone because I’m a bit old fashioned, so those apps and mobile maps are not my cup of tea. I just wanted to know, is there a way of getting a local map or information on the paths I am allowed to walk on without feeling like I’m committing a crime.
I used to be a grouse beater and I wore camo clothing, which I still do for a number of reasons.. first of all it is ideal for wildlife photography which I do a lot of.. so you can take photos of animals without scaring them off . the clothing is also ideal for walking in muddy conditions so dirty marks just blend in, the fabric is hard wearing and doesn’t rip easy, it is comfortable and dries off quite fast from getting wet from rain and sweat, the trousers and jackets have loads of pockets to carry drinks,snacks cameras mobile phones etc.. and army clothing is far cheaper than top brand hiking gear which I also have a lot of but tend to keep it for outings and holidays.. But there is a real stigma attached to wearing camo clothing and you can be mistaken and stereotyped as a poacher or just a wrong ‘un in general. Around 3 months ago, I had the police knocking at my door and I was shocked when he said I need to ask you why your car has been seen in Weardale on a number of occasions ! .. I was gobsmacked.. So I asked what I had been suspected of doing and he replied with “ you were wearing camouflage clothing “ .. Which I said I didn’t know wearing camo clothing could warrant a knock at the door and get me into possible trouble, after all it is not illegal or criminal to wear army surplus gear.
So after this bad experience I am very paranoid and I feel like I am being scrutinised by land owners who see me accessing their land, which by law I am free to do so.
I would also like to add that I am nearly 50 years old, I have no criminal record and I never break the law intentionally, my wife and I foster children and I would never compromise our work by poaching or any other outdoor criminal activity.. I love the outdoors and I have done since I could walk as a child.
Sorry if I have “ rambled on “ a bit hehee.. but any help or advice would be appreciated as I would like to know the best way I can sort this out, such as - should I go to the council and report the signs being took down, should I gather the information and photographs of the access points that have no yellow arrows any more, should I take photographic evidence etc..
Any help or advice would be appreciated very much as I feel like I should be able to feel relaxed and comfortable enough to go for a hike in our free country.
Thanks in advance, John