Bridleway puzzlement

[Zaphodsotherhead]

I've been taking my dog walking down a nearby bridleway very occasionally, because there are sometimes sheep on an adjacent field. Obviously she is on the lead whenever stock are about, but the main part of the track is fully fenced and stockproof, so we've been walking that bit off lead.

Today I went past and someone has stuck a 'No Dog Walking. This is a bridlepath for horses only' on the gate. My understanding was that bridleways are public rights of way and that you can't restrict who uses it to the extent of saying 'horses only'.

I won't be walking my dog down there again, obviously, someone clearly feels very strongly about it, but is it legal to stop dog walkers? There are no signs on any of the gates saying dogs must be on a lead or anything but we've got lambing sheep around, so dogs should be on leads pretty much everywhere here anyway.

Lots of posters are getting agitated about the inalienable rights of dog owners to wander at will in the countryside but no-one has asked where the OP lives?

As Mumsnet is worldwide, I think it’s important to point out that these ‘rights of way‘ in the countryside is not a universal right.

I’d like to mention that in the Republic of Ireland, there is NO legal right to roam, despite many tourists believing otherwise.

There are some fine standing stones in the field next to us but there is no right of way into the field. It’s private land. Last week there was a woman exercising her dog in the field (!). I’m taking a wild guess that she’s not a local observing the exercising within 2km of home rule, because she got very concerned when one of the bullocks started chasing her silly dog.

I’d like to mention that in the Republic of Ireland, there is NO legal right to roam, despite many tourists believing otherwise.

There isn't in the UK apart from Scotland... and Scotland doesn't have bridleways. I think it's fairly safe to assume that the OP lives in England or Wales.

You are quite correct both of you. @EverythingChanges321 I should have specified in my OP that I live in England, and @PhoneLock is correct to surmise that I do.

But I don't 'wander at will' over the countryside, only down legislated tracks and paths.

@Zaphodsotherhead How infuriating. You're the one in the right!!! Can someone else do it for you?! I just hate to see you bullied away from somewhere that you're perfectly permitted to be

Thanks Haven. I'll have to ask around. I don't know many other people with dogs (because mine is so reactive), but I may be able to find someone who can go down there, once we are out of lockdown!

Are you sure it's the landowner that's put up the sign? If they're busy with lambing they might not even be aware of it. If you ride then I'm sure you've come across that minority of inexperienced riders that seem to think everything should revolve around them and their horse. It's quite possible some entitled novice has taken it upon themselves to put it up because they are a nervous rider.

That's a thought Trainspotting. However, it's not a very much used track, and I don't think there's enough dogs going down there that it would be a problem. As I said, I've never seen ANYONE, horse or dog owner on the track. There are several horse owners around, none are novices (or if they are they are severely over-horsed!) or have young children and it's not a long enough or visibility impared track to be much of a problem. My money is still on sheep owner/land owner (they may not be the same person, there's a lot of rented land around here).

Someone has gone to some trouble to print out the sign and laminate it, then stick it to the gate though. Maybe I'm paranoid to think it's aimed at me, but it's a big coincidence that I've only just started walking my dog up the track (it's too overgrown/wet for most of the year) and suddenly there''s a sign..,

YABVU. It doesn't matter if you can see for miles. You've said you are in the middle of lambing countryside, and the farmer has obviously spotted you or others with dogs out of control on their land. Put your dog on a lead and you'll be able to carry on using the land lawfully. The farmer can shoot your dog if they believe it to be worrying.

Fair enough, I was thinking of one local to me that seems to form part of the route for a wider area iyswim so there's a range of riders. I wouldn't say the number of dogs was relevant though, dc were once told by an adult they had to turn back their ponies because her horse napped, and another occasion I was warned by a bouncing fool that a selfish walker was up ahead with an open umbrella. I can imagine the same mentality classing a perfectly under control dog as yet another potential hazard they can't possibly risk encountering.

If it's definitely a public bridleway, and you are definitely following the sign posted route, then yes you can walk your dog. However, given it is lambing season then I'd definitely keep your dog on a lead regardless, that way there can be no mistake.

If ever you have a query about rights of way, contact your local council rights of way section. They are the primary holders of this information.
The OS produce their maps from Council held data.
There's a lot of misunderstanding and misinformation about public rights!
Public bridleways are minor public highways. Open to horses ridden and led, cyclists and walkers. Dogs should be under close control but are not required to be on a lead.

www.suffolkpublicrightsofway.org.uk/faqs/where-can-i-go-and-what-can-i-do/

There isn't in the UK apart from Scotland...

OT, but there is a sort of 'right to roam' on various pieces of 'open access land' in England. However, the rights of dogs on these areas is restricted - they must be on a short lead during the ground bird nesting season and always near livestock, and can be totally barred from some areas eg grouse moors.

www.gov.uk/guidance/open-access-land-management-rights-and-responsibilities

My dog is always on the lead anywhere near sheep, for all those thinking that the farmer has seen her out worrying animals.

She's very reactive, so I wouldn't dare not. I've had dogs all my life and we've lived in sheep territory for nearly 30 years. I'm pretty well up on 'dogs under control'. I love my dogs and don't want them shot, thanks.

I would keep my dog on a lead too.
The advice above about short leads on access land is correct too. It's to protect ground nesting birds from disturbance.

Why can't you keep your dog on a lead all the time when walking on the path, I don't understand? If she's so reactive you need to be able to control her, which you can't if she's loose. Why must you only be able to see sheep to have it on a lead?

I'm astonished that you even bothered to contact the officials about this at the time. You're not puzzled, you just wanted to get them into trouble. You know perfectly well that they can't close the path, but they can ask you to have some decency about controlling your animal around theirs.

Yes, Constance my dog is allowed to run amok absolutely everywhere and I just wanted to get people who have stuck an illegal sign onto a gate into trouble.

Sigh.

It’s an inalienable rule of MN that that no matter how reasonable the OP and how measured the initial responses, the longer the thread goes on the more inevitable it is that someone will come on and start insinuating that they’re an arsehole. Every. single. time.

Look, I quite agree, they cannot close the path to dog walkers. But you knew that, surely? Why must your dog be off the lead, especially at this time in both the farming calendar and with lockdown giving everyone the heebie jeebies?

I don't think you're an arsehole at all fwiw. Can you even see their frustration at all at this time?

Also, sticking a sign up isn't illegal. Deliberately blocking the path might be. I can stick a sign up saying "no Bluegrass in this thread" but it would mean fuck all, and both I and Bluegrass would know it.