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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to walk down this path?

60 replies

GoldenOmber · 03/09/2021 15:51

Near where I live there’s a lot of nice walking paths. One of them goes near a small group of new houses. The footpath predates the houses. It’s on private land I believe (not owned by the people in the new houses), but, as we’re in Scotland, you’re allowed to cross private land on foot so long as you’re being responsible and not too close to anyone’s homes etc.

The people who live in the new houses do not like walkers going along this footpath. They can’t actually stop people (they have put a No Entry sign up previously, which the council made them take down), but if you walk down that path they will sometimes come up and question you about where you’re going and why you’re there and make it very clear they’d rather you weren’t.

Today, nice day off, out for a walk, strolling happily down that path to find a local resident standing with arms folded glaring at me. Did not respond to a cheery “Morning!”

The path isn’t close enough to any of the houses to see in through the windows or anything, and it doesn’t cross anyone’s gardens, and it’s part of a nice longer walking route. Legally, walking down it is fine. But the people in those houses definitely do not want people doing it.

YABU - walk somewhere else, who cares what the law says, they don’t like it.
YANBU - law overrides what they like, keep walking.

OP posts:
ablutiions · 03/09/2021 17:07

If it were me and they tried to stop me, I'd be going every day in a range of outlandish clothes and large hats, just got the hell of it. Maybe adding in a few skips and whistling as well.

Oh and with 3 dogs. Grin

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 03/09/2021 17:07

We’ve got one of these. Houses where the ...... Way national footpath runs in front of his house. He shouts at people if they chat, he’s physically tried to stop people, he’s attacked people, taken down the ....Way route marker from the gate post, tried to run over walker’s dogs. Yes the police are aware. Not stopped anyone walking there.

ChargingBuck · 03/09/2021 17:08

YANBU.

If they didn't want to live next door to a footpath, they shouldn't have bought a house next door to ... a footpath.

The glaring is bullying OP, pure & simple.
Keep your phone in your hand, set to video, & make it v obvious you are recording next time you are glared at.
If quizzed, cheerily respond that you are feeling harrassed by their hostile stance, so are simply evidencing it.

We've got something similar going on locally - new couple have moved in next to an old right of way & are being v chippy about making people ring for an appointment to walk through the couple of yards of their land to access the right of way.
More fool them - they've moved here to set up a business, much of the successful running of which will be dependent on local goodwill, which they've just squandered. Ha de ha har.

ChargingBuck · 03/09/2021 17:13

@ItsAllGoingToBeFine

Keep walking. Perhaps form a ramblers or walking group and then a whole group of you could go?
Cracking! - All of you singing in loud harmony as you march by.

Show them the Ramblers are not to be messed with. (This is partly serious. These newcomers need to be put back in their box, or meeker walkers are going to be scared off).

Tara336 · 03/09/2021 17:15

Ridiculous how some homeowners behave, my company sold some land off next to our offices and factories. Homeowners moved in then proceeded to complain that they could see lorries and vans from their upstairs windows, they actually wanted us to not use our car park and move the skips too while we were at it. Their new homes were very obviously next to factories and offices when they viewed, it’s not like you couldn’t miss it!

SignOnTheWindow · 03/09/2021 17:15

This would only make me walk there MORE. Fuck 'em. Keep walking and bring your mates next time.

DDiva · 03/09/2021 17:18

They really need to find something more productive to do with their time.

CornishTiger · 03/09/2021 17:21

Keep walking it. If the glares continue stick some fancy dress on so they actually have something to look at.

ChargingBuck · 03/09/2021 17:22

@Tara336

Ridiculous how some homeowners behave, my company sold some land off next to our offices and factories. Homeowners moved in then proceeded to complain that they could see lorries and vans from their upstairs windows, they actually wanted us to not use our car park and move the skips too while we were at it. Their new homes were very obviously next to factories and offices when they viewed, it’s not like you couldn’t miss it!
I have a friend who is a sterling ranconteur & wit, with a very deadpan style.

Years ago, he moved from B'ham to rural Shropshire.

On meeting his neighbouring farmer & being kindly welcomed to the area, he piped up "there's just one thing though ... your sheep are very noisy at dawn. Do you think you could move them indoors overnight?"

Grin Grin Grin

ChargingBuck · 03/09/2021 17:23

@CornishTiger

Keep walking it. If the glares continue stick some fancy dress on so they actually have something to look at.
Yes! En masse fancy dress, that should piss the humourless entitled bastards right off :)
BlackberrySky · 03/09/2021 17:23

Oh God, people who think they own more than their own land are really annoying. They should go make friends with the people who put aggressive notes on your car when you park outside their house on an unrestricted road!

Sonofabiscuit · 03/09/2021 17:25

I suggest getting a group of fellow walkers together and do a very loud singing ,conga line up and down the path .
Fancy dress optional

trulyconfuseddotcom · 03/09/2021 17:28

I'm in Scotland too - you absolutely have the right to walk this path, keep doing it and be insanely cheerful about it! Big smile, big friendly 'Morning! Lovely day!', a cheery wave. Don't allow them to intimidate you.

IntermittentParps · 03/09/2021 17:31

Fuck em.

Kill them with kindness. Be friendly and ignore rudeness/intimidation attempts.

Dizzy1234 · 03/09/2021 17:31

Print off the right of way and under the cover of darkness post one through each door, passive aggressive af, I can't bare entitled arseholes, enjoy your walk op 😂🚶‍♀️

LargeBouquet · 03/09/2021 17:32

I used to rent a house in an Oxfordshire village that had a footpath that crossed diagonally across my front lawn, joined up with my front path, crossed right under my kitchen window, went around the corner of the house and out through a stile in the back wall. I actually found that, with a few exceptions, people were rather abashed and very respectful when using it, and I quickly got used to fifteen Ramblers giving me a nod as I was doing the washing up.

MaMelon · 03/09/2021 17:37

Keep going - and enjoy your walk!

Jemand · 03/09/2021 17:39

I'm afraid if I were you I would regard it as my duty to keep using this path, and encourage as many as possible of the other locals to do so also. The residents will, with any luck, learn to accept it when they realise that childish attempts to obstruct get them nowhere and that, actually, you walking there does not harm them in the least.

BrendaBubbles · 03/09/2021 17:42

I would engage them in inane conversations or ask them stupid questions in response to confuse them. They will soon learn to leave you alone

essentialhealing · 03/09/2021 17:52

They bought the house knowing full well about the footpath

I would walk on it as much as poss just to annoy them

krustykittens · 03/09/2021 17:56

People like this really boil my piss. If they didn't like it, they shouldn't have bought the damn house. Video them, OP, and make it clear you do not appreciate their hostile attitude.

LolalolaLola · 03/09/2021 17:57

keep using it! And I would be obliging with answers to what I was doing either, if someone was rudely demanding to know what I was doing.

Years ago I sometimes used to ride my horse right through the middle of somebody's farmyard on a bridle route. It was right up on the tops of the moors, and the first time I went through I was a little nervous. It was pretty remote and they told me I was the only one that ever used the path, so I was glad to be keeping it in use! (I think I was a bit of a novelty, sometimes they used to invite me in for tea and cake and let me put my horse in their barn for a rest.

Don't let these numpties ruin this path for everyone, keep it open.

StoneofDestiny · 03/09/2021 18:35

I'm sure some ramblers will join you on your stroll, they will have brought this on themselves.

MereDintofPandiculation · 03/09/2021 18:56

They are trying to steal the footpath from public use. It's no different to those people who try to extend their gardens by encroaching on Council-owned greenspace.

NotJuryDutyAgain · 03/09/2021 19:08

Tbh, I'd find that intimidating and would probably avoid if I was on my own, but they're clearly in the wrong. It's not their property and they shouldn't have bought a house there if they didn't want lots of people walking near their homes.

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