is there an issue with going for a long walk in the countryside?

[EricaNernie]

that is remote and accessible on foot?

why should this be for an hour?

I go for a walk in the countryside with the DC every afternoon. We’d have to travel to walk in a town.

Plenty of people live near countryside and because most people aren’t working, they’re making the most of what’s on their doorstep.

Enjoy your walk, but be aware that the virus can last for some time on metal. Take hand santiser and use it before and after you touch a gate or stile.

Go and enjoy your walk

Fine and probably healthy too. Enjoy the fresh air, mud, sun and beautiful birdsong.

Love the farmers round here. Normally Facebook is filled with 'a bit of dirt never hurt anyone, you townies are all to prim and clean'. Now it’s 'nooo don’t come here and touch the outdoor fences'.

A walk is fine - and so much healthier for you than sitting indoors. As long as you Re following the government rules. Wash your hands as soon as you get home. Take hand sanitizer (or a soapy wash cloth) while out, then wash hands at home.

i am not near metal, it is wooden styles i go over, i know you should not stop for a picnic while on a public footpath.
i am not putting my hand to my mouth.
i wash my hands when i come home.

i guess hand sanitiser might be useful

Derbygerbil "If they are worried about people touching gates then they should wear gloves and/or wash their hands when they get back"

it's their gate. How about you keep away from other people's property

thank you, beautiful green fields., lovely bird song, and spring flowers

It depends on whether you can do so without deviating from the footpath/ right of way.

It’s usually pretty straightforward...
But if you did happen to take a wrong turn and walk over some piece of random farmland by mistake, it’s not the end of the world.

As long as you are on a public footpath, then go for it. Farm or no. No different to walking around the streets.

it's their gate. How about you keep away from other people's property

On a public right of way

they have not been shut, unlike during the foot and mouth crisis

It's happening. Many councils are granting farmers who apply for them temporary footpath closures. Farmers have always been able to apply for these during lambing time etc but don't generally bother.

Our local police force are also urging people to stay away from farmyards.

The 'daily exercise' loophole is bringing all sorts of people onto footpaths they have never felt the urge to visit before. It's like the busiest of bank holidays every single day. People with dogs off leads with no regard for the countryside code.

Every single one of them believes that they aren't causing any problems but every single person is another person amongst the hoards who have come through our farm yard over the last few weeks.

No one is arguing anyone should trespass over farmers’ land here, just that people shouldn’t be made to feel guilty about taking their exercise in the countyside on public rights of way and daring to stray near farms as they do so.

it's their gate. How about you keep away from other people's property

If it’s a public footpath, then it’s a public footpath. The farmers need to wear gloves, then wash their hands when they get home.

Of course you can do it. Whether you should is another matter. It's lambing season and locally the farmers are having issues with the sheep being disturbed by the volume of walkers, particularly those with dogs or unruly kids. Add to that the fact that a lot of farmers are older, and if they fall ill they could be in big trouble, and there may be no one to look after their animals.

I personally wouldn't- I think farmers are front line workers at times like this and they're being pretty clear about what they want. But if you do, please treat the land and animals with respect, and think about whether you'd be happy with your infection control measures if your 80year old grandfather was coming over the stile after you.

Public footpaths are just that - public. The barriers (gates, stiles) across them are maintained at the farmers' expense because they would not be necessary if there were no livestock. Footpaths are like roads. Don't let the landowning class intimidate you off them.

The 'daily exercise' loophole is bringing all sorts of people onto footpaths they have never felt the urge to visit before.

Because they are not able to access their normal form of exercise (swimming/ gym/ group and contact sports etc). They’re forced to do something else and outdoor exercise is healthy. Especially when people are stuck indoors for the rest of the time.

It's happening. Many councils are granting farmers who apply for them temporary footpath closures. Farmers have always been able to apply for these during lambing time etc but don't generally bother.

Great... keep the townies herded together and force them to take exercise cheek by jowl as open spaces (the safest spaces in this pandemic ffs) are closed down, whilst those in the countryside ensure they socially distance by miles not metres! And I say this as someone who lives in the countryside.

I'm seriously beginning to think the emergency legislation should have included the right to shoot trespassers

Wow! Thank goodness we don’t have the right to bear arms in this country with people like you around!

I’m certain ppl aren’t breathing over the old farmers, nor coming within 2 metres of them. Normal handwashing rules apply to everyone after being outdoors.

But if you do, please treat the land and animals with respect, and think about whether you'd be happy with your infection control measures if your 80year old grandfather was coming over the stile after you.

Yes, my 74 mum goes on walks in local woodland. It’s good for her and she’s socially distancing. I trust her to wash her hands. Get parcels or food deliveries is potentially at least as “risky” in terms of contamination.

A public right of way is just that though, the right to pass through someone else's land on your way to somewhere else.

It does not give people the right to

Have a picnic
let their dogs off a lead to roam around the field
have a barbecue
set up a tent
have a camp fire
put up a rope swing in a tree
Go for a wander along a route that looks more scenic even though it's nowhere near a footpath
Take mushrooms/fire wood/holly/berries/stones for the garden etc from the property
Dig up turf
Fly a kite
Use a drone
Ride motorcross bikes
Build a dam in the stream
Park a campervan
Go for a poo

These are all things that have happened in our fields in the last few years, you can see why farmers aren't exactly trusting that the great British Public will stick to where they are supposed to be and pass through quickly without causing us any harm.

I need to come off here now, it is heartbreaking to see such shitty attitudes. Go and enjoy your walk, we can't exercise in any other way, we need to keep mentally well too.

I'm seriously beginning to think the emergency legislation should have included the right to shoot trespassers

Yes, because a trespasser a 100m away from a farmer is practically coughing in his face