Am I a cf for asking a farmer this question?

Have you looked at the council/ordnance survey maps to see what footpaths are around there? Often there are rights of way across fields etc.

There are also "stewardship" grants for farmers that involve leaving the headland of fields untouched to encourage wildlife etc. These grants are dependent on the farmer not allowing anyone on it to walk dogs, ride horses etc. so it may well be that you wouldn't be allowed on it for this reason.

No harm in asking the farmer, best way to get to know them but be aware even some arable crops can be poisonous to dogs such as rapeseed. I live rurally nobody by me uses the fields to walk their dogs, there are a feew tracks and rights of way that are used instead and some have set up 'dog friendly walking fields'

It’s a funny one as the landowner may well not be the one who farms the land as parcels of land are often rented and worked by contractors. Also you have to bear in mind rotations and so what may be arable now, might be grazing for livestock in a few years time.

if you won’t buy the house without being able to walk in the neighbouring fields then probably best not to buy the house as any informal
agreements could change quickly. We’re on a farm and don’t mind our neighbour (who has a reactive dog) using some of the fields not near our house for walking in, but we have known her many years, and those fields aren’t ever going to be used for livestock. I wouldn’t allow anyone to walk in our horse fields or the ones nearest to our house. Our neighbouring farmer has a footpath through some of his fields and has dreadful trouble with off lead dogs when he has his sheep in there.

I’m surprised that the single track lane is 30mph as usually they are national speed limit and they are self limiting because of the width and bends in the roads. Our drive comes out onto a single track lane with no verges and 60mph speed limit but in reality it would be impossible to drive faster than 10-20mph along it, so I walk the dogs, ride my horses and let the children ride their bikes along there. It’s perfectly safe and we just tuck into the hedge or find a passing place when a car comes. There isn’t much traffic though I suppose.

YANBU but I’d probably try and make friends with the farmer first. We live on the back of a farm and over general chats the farmer said we were welcome to walk around the edge of the fields.

He won’t mind as long as you bear several things in mind. It’s not a dog park it’s working land. He might have people shooting on it, he might spray it ( you’ll need to let it rain before walking in it or it’ll be potential hazardous shortly thereafter, and always close all gates and keep dog on lead. Don’t go in with livestock- a dog on a lead will still make pregnant ewes or cows run and potentially abort and definitely don’t go in with cattle if your nervous of them as you do risk your dog being chased and trampled. As long as you factor such things in and perhaps offer some favour ( eg home baking) in return he’ll see it as a reasonable request I’m sure.

Most of us pop it in an email to confirm what was discussed.

But what you are talking about is a question of evidence. If a person gives permission it does not become a right.

I would say no. He owns the land and doesn’t know you or your dogs so there is nothing in it for him and your dogs pose a potential risk to any animals he has or crops and he only has your word for it that you will clear up? Why are you more special than all the other dog owning locals? If he allows you others may think it is ok for them to walk their dogs there too and it will just end up being a giant ball ache for him. I wouldn’t let a total stranger have the roam of my farmland and woods. Look elsewhere for a property.

Went to B&Q with my DH one afternoon and actually had to pull him aside and stop him asking an assistant a question and to let me do it instead. He stank to high heaven of pig shit. We left very quickly afterwards. it becomes ingrained. if you want to know one type of farming never to get into, it's pigs. no money in pigs. thankfully we sell it direct to consumer now so still do a few each year as the difference between shop bought and home reared is massive. i'm digressing, sorry.

Incorrect - if the farmer gave verbal permission, OP could deny this ever happened and there would be no evidence of this

Farmers tend to not like people seeing what they’re up to. Also, what if they’ve just sprayed pesticide or glyphosate and you’re not aware ?

I don’t think it’s ever really cheeky to ask this sort of question as long as you respect the response…

If you're near the edge of a town I'd really advocate researching planning applications nearby and in particular over those fields. You can do that using the Council's planning portal. Your friendly neighbourhood farmer may have already sold those fields!

Even with right to roam it's not always advisable to enter a farmer's field, especially with a dog. Right to roam also comes with responsibility.

Need the right to roam like we have in Scotland. Farmers here leave a gap around the outside of their fields for people to walk. Have to respect livestock though, we stick to crop fields and walk the line they leave.

Already explained numerous times.

Who do you think is pretending to be a farmer? 🫣

I live in a farming community.
I can often smell actual slurry.

The voice of reason?
Perhaps just someone with a different view.
Some of us also know farmers who wouldn't be happy with OPs suggestion.

Being happy to meet someone isn't the same as being happy to allow them to walk their dog over your livelihood.

Hi Viz for you and your dogs (even on the brightest of days) and just tuck yourself in when you hear something coming. You'll be fine :) welcome to country life!

😂😂

How is asking a question'entitled' ffs?!

Are you sure the countryside is for you?!

The thing is.. if thrre are no livestock in the field, its crops which you will def not be allowed to walk on. Why would they let you tramp on something they then can't harvest?
Unless you'd like someone doing 3m circumference circles around your garden, give your head a wobble.. smacks of entitlement and you'd be wise not to ask.