Am I a cf for asking a farmer this question?

[Whye]

We want to buy a house which is off a rarely used but fast winding country lane - only wide enough for one car. The speed limit is 30 but we have seen cars zooming along. I would not feel safe walking my dog on these country roads. There are some woods nearby but I would probably have to load dogs up each time for the 2 min drive.

There are fields all around. Would I be cheeky to ask the farmer who owns the fields opposite us if I could potentially walk my dogs on the perimeter of his fields, obviously I will pick up messes and be respectful.

We would be 5 mins from a decent sized market town so there are plenty of options just not convenient. Am I being cheeky?

I think it’s fine to ask. My farmer neighbour is happy for me to walk my dog as long as there isn’t any stock in the fields. I asked once I’d moved in though, knowing I had alternatives and was happy to use the car.
You mention woods as well - do you know who they belong to? Contrary to popular opinion, woods always belong to someone and unless there are footpaths or it’s a public park, you don’t have an automatic right to walk there either..

They won't have 'the freedom to explore' on the farmer's land either though.

"Fanny pack"?!? Are you American?

Seriously though, have a look on an OS map or footpathmap.co.uk. You might find a right to walk nearby. And if not just get some high viz for you and the dog and be vigilant on the road. We live in what seems like a similar road. We don't have dogs but I have proviz kit for cycling/running. Also, most of the time the road is quiet. It is busy at school run time and if the nearby motorway is jammed and people go on a sat nav adventure that they will regret. So I just avoid running on it at those times. If I want to go then I drive 2 mins to the nearby woods rather going straight from the front door.

Your dogs only have the right to be on the footpath too. Not exploring all around.

Hmm only issue is if he changes his mind/gets snarky. Not sure it’s worth it.

Pavements. I like walking my two chunky (and aging) golden retrievers on pavements. Chucking ourselves into hedges whenever a car pasts us sounds far from ideal. I’m fairly Inflexible on this hence why I was considering asking the question.

Who’s Gail?

Exploring = walking on lead and having a sniff

Don't move to the country if pavements are an absolute requirement.

I think if buying the house depends on his answer , then I wouldn't bother and look for something else

He could say yes at the moment and then change his mind, or say yes and then move and someone else move in.

I get what you are saying about not wanting to use the car for every dog walk, I wouldnt either so if the road is a no go I'd decide this wasnt the house for me

Question.

Farmer says yes. You buy the house Then farmer changes the use of the field to animal grazing. Now it's a no.

Or.

Farmer says yes. Then sprays harmful (to dogs) pesticides. So you can't use it without risking your dogs health.

What do you do then? If you're so inflexible on this?

Look at the interactive Rights of Way map for that area. It will show you all the footpaths, bridlepaths, greenlanes etc.

I’m not moving to the country. The setting is semi rural. But you are 3/4 mins away from the edge of a nice, medium sized market town.

OP keeps ignoring this as is enjoying winding up the cuntry bumpkins far too much

I thought you wanted to ask for a permission to carefully walk through the farmer's land to reach some other area. Presumably with dogs on the short lead, to keep them close to you and on the path.
Not to walk the dogs all over the land giving them "freedom to explore".

Anyway, it doesn't make sense to buy a house based on a random verbal agreement which can be revoked at any time, and noone will give you any stronger rights on their land.

Check for existing options, if the paths are there, you can ask locally about them. If no paths are there, take it as no paths available.

BTW I totally understand that being able to walk directly form your door and having to drive, no matter it is 2 minutes drive, are very different things. Just some houses are practically cut of and the first option isn't available.

Oh sorry I meant to reply. I looked it up and annoyingly the stretch I’m needing to walk is not covered by a footpath. There are a few in the area which is good to know but none that would help me.

Not if she has permission

Freedom to explore = having dogs on 1.5 m flexi leads and letting them have a sniff without having to essentially heel beside me. They walk ahead of me and just stop and start whenever a sniff interests them.

Is the road very busy, OP? I have two elderly terriers who are beginning to find 'off roading' a bit of an effort, so now we have a little walk on the road on days they are not feeling great. We don't have a verge for most of it either, but it is very quiet. It's also winding, so people cannot go fast and we find everyone passes us wide and slow. I always wear high viz, as well. It might be worth seeing if you can talk to locals and find out what the area is like, if you really have your heart set on this house?

I think if walking your dogs straight from your door along a pavement or path / field is important to you, then this isn't the house for you.

OK, don't move anywhere that doesn't have pavements if pavements are a requirement.

Go on your local council website and search for 'Definitive Map'. This will usually provide a link to an online map covering all the Public Rights of Way: footpaths, bridleway and byways.

A 1.5m Flexi lead is 3m around you. Any path through a farmers field isn't going to be that wide.

The what?
The numpties on here are not those who understand rural life. 🫣

Her having permission wouldn't stop others thinking they can do it too.