How to Walk Safely on Public Footpaths and Farmland

England and Wales are criss-crossed by thousands of miles of public paths, many of which run straight through working farms. That is a wonderful privilege, and it comes with a few responsibilities. Understanding the basic public footpath rules makes your walk safer, protects farmers’ livelihoods and helps keep paths open for everyone.

This guide explains the types of path, how to behave around crops, gates and animals, and what to do if something is blocking your way. It is general information for England and Wales. Scotland has different access arrangements, so check the Scottish Outdoor Access Code if you walk there.

The Types of Public Right of Way

Not every path is open to every user. The main categories in England and Wales are:

• Public footpath: Open to walkers only. On most maps and waymarkers, it is shown with a yellow arrow.
• Bridleway: Open to walkers, horse riders and cyclists, usually shown with a blue arrow.
• Restricted byway: Open to walkers, riders, cyclists and horse-drawn vehicles, shown with a plum or purple arrow.
• Byway open to all traffic (BOAT): Open to all users, including motor vehicles, shown with a red arrow.

The colour-coded arrows are a quick way to check what you are on. Maps show paths with different line styles, which our map-reading guide explains.

How to Read an OS Map Before Your Next Ramble

Remember that a path on a map is not guaranteed to be passable. Rights of way can be temporarily diverted, and on rare occasions, closed for public safety. Councils publish notices, and signs are normally posted on site.

Stay on the Line of the Path

The legal right is to walk along the line of the path, not wherever you fancy within the field. Staying on the line protects crops and avoids trespass. If the path is not obvious on the ground, use the map, waymarkers and landmarks to work out where it goes.

If the path crosses a ploughed field or growing crop, the law generally expects the landowner to restore the surface and make the path visible after cultivation within a set period. Where the line is not clear, keep to it as best you can, walking in single file through crops rather than creating a new track around the edge. Tell the council if it is repeatedly obstructed.

Gates, Stiles and Fences

Farm gates are there to keep animals in or out. Follow this simple rule: leave a gate as you found it. If it was closed, close it behind you. If it was open and tied back, perhaps because animals have been moved, leave it open.

Never climb a gate unless you have to, and do not climb over fences when there is a stile or gate nearby. Use the hinge side if climbing is the only way, to avoid putting weight on the latch end. Take care with stiles when wet, and help children and dogs across them. Some stiles have dog gates alongside. If a stile is broken or a gate cannot be opened, report it to the highway authority.

Walking Through Livestock

Fields with cows, sheep or horses are a common feature of pub walks and countryside rambles. Most of the time, animals ignore walkers. A few precautions keep it that way.

• Keep your distance and walk quietly.
• Avoid walking between a cow and her calf.
• Do not feed or touch animals, however friendly they appear.
• Keep dogs on a short lead around livestock, and take extra care in fields with young animals.
• Close gates behind you so animals cannot escape.

If cattle approach you, stay calm and walk on steadily, and avoid running. If you feel threatened and have a dog on a lead, release the dog rather than hold on, since cattle are more likely to chase the dog than you, and the dog can usually outrun them. Then move to safety quickly and tell the farmer or council if there was a problem.

Never go into a field with a bull unless the path rules and fencing make it clear that it is lawful and safe. In England and Wales, certain breeds of bull are not allowed in fields with public footpaths, but there are exceptions, such as when accompanied by cows or heifers. Use judgement and take another route if you feel uneasy.

Dogs on Public Paths

Dogs are welcome on most paths, but you are responsible for them. Keep them under close control at all times, which generally means on a lead or within your sight and reliably responsive. By law, you must keep dogs on a short lead near livestock, and on open access land from 1 March to 31 July to protect ground nesting birds and all year round near livestock.

Always pick up dog waste and take it home or use a bin, not leave bags hanging in trees or hedges. Farm animals can pick up diseases from dog faeces, so this really matters.

Crops, Fields and Machinery

Do not walk across the middle of a crop to dodge a muddy edge. Where the path runs along a field margin, use it. If a path passes through a field of tall crops such as maize or oilseed rape, it can feel closed in, but the right to walk remains. Carry on in single file and be careful with children.

Be aware of working machinery, especially during harvest and silage season. Stay alert near farmyards and tracks, and do not enter areas marked as unsafe.

Roads, Rail and Water

Some footpaths cross roads or railway lines. Treat these with caution. At level crossings, follow the instructions on signs and use phone or stop-look-listen systems as indicated. On roads without pavements, walk facing oncoming traffic so you can see it coming, except on right-hand bends where it can be safer to cross to the other side for visibility. Wear bright colours in poor light.

Footpaths often run beside rivers and streams. Keep a safe distance from edges that may be undercut or slippery, especially after rain.

What To Do If a Path Is Blocked

Obstructions are frustrating, but there are sensible ways to deal with them.

1. Document the problem. Take photographs and note the location with a grid reference or what3words style address.
2. Take the least damaging detour. The legal advice is to go around the obstruction rather than turning back, staying as close to the line as possible and not crossing crops unnecessarily.
3. Report it. Contact the local highway authority, usually the county or unitary council, which has the legal duty to keep paths open. Many have online forms.
4. Be polite. Avoid confrontations with landowners. A friendly approach is more productive.

A local Ramblers group or parish council may also help with persistent issues.

Good Manners Make Paths Last

Public footpaths survive because walkers, farmers and landowners generally get along. A little courtesy goes a long way.

• Say hello to people you meet.
• Do not leave litter, including biodegradable waste such as banana skins and apple cores.
• Avoid walking in large groups across small fields.
• Never light fires or barbecues.
• Keep noise to a minimum near farm animals.

For a quick guide to the Countryside Code itself, see our FAQ page.

Countryside Code FAQs for Ramblers

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I walk anywhere on a farm?
No. Your right is to walk on the line of the public path. Other areas are private unless marked as access land or a permissive path.

Do I have to keep my dog on a lead?
Near livestock, you must keep it on a short lead, and on access land during the bird breeding season. In general, keep it under close control.

What should I do if cows come near?
Stay calm, keep walking and avoid running. If chased with a dog on a lead, let the dog go.

Who do I tell about a broken stile or blocked path?
Report it to the local highway authority, usually your county or unitary council.

Conclusion

Walking public footpaths across farmland is a shared pleasure. Know your path type, keep to the line, handle gates and livestock calmly, control your dog and report problems politely. Follow these simple public footpath rules and you will help to keep the countryside open and welcoming.