Can I ask if anyone knows if this is illegal or not in relation to a right of way across a farmers' land?
To explain what happened and give context. I was walking my dog through a field full of sheep and lambs, dog was at my heel the whole time (no issue whatsoever with the livestock) and we were then away from the sheep and heading for a kissing gate which is where the right of way footpath leads. It crosses a small field and ends up in a village, you can also veer to the left of the kissing gate and continue through the same field ending up at the same point near the village.
I elected to take the left hand path which is about 2 feet away from the official path but divided by a hedge because the small field with the footpath was full of sheep and lambs resting by the gate - I didn't want to disturb them.
I was walking into the sunlight so couldn't see properly but could just about make out a figure a short distance away, a shot was fired into the air followed by 3 more as I walked the length of the hedge. I was really quite worried and hurried through the gate at the end whereupon the shots stopped.
I believe that the gun was either a rifle or a shotgun as the report was pretty loud.
I appreciate that I was off the official footpath strictly speaking but was doing so for purely altruistic reasons (of course he didn't know that).
Should I take this further or was the farmer within his rights? I wish he had just approached me and I could have explained what I was doing and why. The whole incident was pretty unnerving if I'm honest.
Have spoken to a couple of locals who say that the farmer is well known for getting irate about people walking off the right of way.
Any advice please gratefully received
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AIBU?
Farmer fired shots over my head, what if anything can I do?
372 replies
unexpectedplaces · 16/05/2015 23:21
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FabULouse ·
16/05/2015 23:24
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16/05/2015 23:26
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