to find this really fucking annoying even though it doesn't really affect me much

[walkway8]

I live in a detached house with a walkway between myself and the neighbours to access both our gardens at the back (diagram attached).

The neighbour has a front garden whereas I have a driveway. They have a gate that opens to the side of my house to allow them access to the walkway to get to their back garden. The walkway is shared land according to the deeds but stops at the top of my driveway (basically my driveway isn't shared but the walkway is).

Whenever my neighbour is doing anything in their garden, bringing this in / out of the garden/ taking things from the garden to their car on the road or whatever, they will go up and down my driveway instead of going through their gate and then down their garden.

It really annoys me. I don't really know why but AIBU to think this is just an odd thing to do?

My living room window looks onto my driveway and some days they will be working in the garden and making multiple trips up and down my drive and I feel awkward and like I need to close my blinds.

I don't even have a bad relationship with them, not friends or close but fine neighbours and we say hello how are you etc when we see them.

But I just find the whole thing really weird. I would never dream of strolling up and down their garden path repeatedly.

We also have cars on the drive so when they are bringing things in and out it worries me they will get scratched.

Aibu to find this annoying and tbh a bit rude?

Honestly I think one particular PP thinks she knows my own properties boundaries better than I do.

I don't understand why so many people don't realise what the OP means from the very clear diagrams. It would really irritate me too if my neighbours did this and I would either put up a gate at the side of the house near to the neighbours' side gate or build a wall and gates across the front by the road, but I suppose it would be a pain to have to open and close gates when you get your cars in and out.

Not really. I wouldn’t want someone walking up and down my driveway just because their own garden is less accessible.

They have a path in their garden, no need for soggy feet.

Apologies I don't want wheelie bins and gardening equipment etc... scratching my car. What a twat.

You on the other hand sound like an utterly pleasant individual.

Actually the suggestion someone has just made of putting big containers with plants in would work effectively and woukd be much cheaper and easier than building a gate.

I can't understand this thinking.

If they don't want wet feet they can lay a hard path ON THEIR OWN PROPERTY.

No one has the right to trespass across a neighbour's land just because they prefer the feel of it beneath their feet.

I wouldn't want my neighbours walking right in front of my window, with me sitting inside, as they trespass over my land.

As long as it doesn't inconvenience your access to your driveway (i.e. make it difficult to get your vehicles in and out and open the doors), then put a fence or hedge there OP.

This would cut off a lot of my drive though so I don't see why I should have to do that. They have more land at the back, we have more at the front.

But that would make the OP's situation worse!?

Why would she want to put a fence through her own driveway?

The only fence the OP needs is one that prevents the neighbours from continuing onto her driveway after they've passed their gate on the shared walkway.

I don't understand why other people can't understand what the OP has described and drawn.

I understand people thinking the OP must be wrong and that the shared walkway must extend across her driveway, but she says she's checked her deeds and that what she is describing is correct.

Or padlocked gate and fence here

Yes very simple, just put some planters blocking the route.

@walkway8

no, I thinks it's just SO illogical. The person that drew up the deeds was an idiot to divide the land like that.

I think the later diagram should have been posted initially to avoid the confusion but I would be pissed off too tbh OP. Although im not sure why you dont either put something at the very end of your walkway that leads out onto the road to stop them using it or actually just add a fence there to block off the access completely? Are you planning to?

Could just be that they don't realise where the shared area ends, or they haven't thought about it.

And this can be repeatedly throughout the day, not just once every couple of weeks to nip the bins down. They do a lot of gardening so some days it can be a constant up and down as they are bringing things in and out.

This, it is a tiny gap to fence, job done.

Can be blocked with planters easily too.

Yes probably! I think when you know something IRL you don't realise that it can be confusing to someone who's never seen it if that makes sense.

Anyway planters at the top of the drive might be an idea until a gate is put up.

Just tell them you're getting a gate on the boundary line, stick some planters there til it is done.

The previous owner possibly allowed it.

I’m with you op, your neighbours are being very lazy, using your driveway rather than their own front garden just because it’s easier to do. Block their access using one of the suggestions already posted by others.

We have a shared drive OP, not the same layout. It sounds petty to some, but this is the kind of thing that would piss me right off. YANBU.

@Lightbluetouchpaper

mine do because we have a shared path from the parking to our front doors.its momentarily distracting when someone passes by, but that's all. The windows are big & low, so they can see right in... I don't care. There's nothing very exciting in my lounge & I'm not doing anything in there I'd be embarassed for them
to see. It's nice say 'Hi' as they pass, especially if I'm washing up.

Who owns the end of the walkway? I'm struggling here. Op are you saying the end of the walkway is your drive?

I’d do this, but first explain to neighbours that I needed to do so for ‘reasons’ [make up your own - insurance says vehicles not secure enough, need extra parking space/configuration, whatever sounds plausible] so I didn’t just look like a bit of a mardy arse deliberately inconveniencing them. Which, of course, it will. So needs a bit of tact.

It’s very clear to me, no confusion and it would 100% irritate me.

They should use their own access, why on earth do they think it’s acceptable to trespass on your land rather than go via their own garden?

Options: 1. Would be just to ask them ‘would you mind not using my drive to access the path? I appreciate it’s an extra 3 steps for you to go via your own garden but I don’t want to risk any scratches on my car or damage to my property. Thank you’

option 2: some plant pots strategically placed at the end of the path so they are forced to turn into their own garden but you can still park without any issues. Or a trellis that comes out at a right angle at the end of the perhaps?