I did a walk in the Staffordshire countryside. What am unexpected challenge with a lack of footpath signs, Overgrown paths and some seemed have dissappeared. My legs and still tingling from the b****y nettles and brambles. Otherwise a great walk with several miles of nude walking

Davie  8)

Hi Davie! Great to hear you’ve been enjoying the Staffordshire countryside. If you have any recommendations of local walking routes to enjoy in the nude, I’d be very interested!

For this one I just looked at the OS map and saw a reasonable route to the southeast of Harlaston village which is a few miles out of Tamworth. I couldn't find the first path and the nearby alternative seemed to be blocked by a building development. I eventually found the path and then had problems following it although I was following the OS map on my mobile. Later the path became pretty much blocked by the rape seed. At another point the path didn't go through the expected filed, made worse by a hedge being grubbed out. At one point I noticed a style standing all on its own.

I've done other walks in the nearby Leicestershire countryside without any problems but earlier in the year.

It was a good area to walk but the state of some footpaths spoilt it. Although the countryside is fairly low lying I did conquer a 98 metre high hill and had lunch near the trig point in the shade of a large tree with a convenient rock to sit on.

If you a BN member you may see Shropshire and Staffordshire walks on the calendar. The last one was in the Gnonsal area

Davie  8)

I did a walk in the Staffordshire countryside. What am unexpected challenge with a lack of footpath signs, Overgrown paths and some seemed have dissappeared. My legs and still tingling from the b****y nettles and brambles. Otherwise a great walk with several miles of nude walking

Davie  8)

Hi Davie.  In my part of Essex we don’t have the luxury of nice moors or great forests to ramble, so we to have to make the best of footpaths and bridleways. 

Essex appears to be quite good with the up keep of footpaths and bridleways, by replacing signs, and removing obstacles and ensuring farmers reinstate footpaths when they get ploughed over.

I’ve spoken to the person in charge (Garry) who oversees footpaths in Essex, and its part of the highways and byways department.  There is a legal requirement to keep them accessible to the public, and its part of the heritage of this country.  It’s not just Essex where this is done, it should be every council in the whole country ensuring paths are signed and accessible.  Garry explained that they do rely on the public to inform them of broken or missing signs etc, and they are about to set up a text messaging service so walkers can report these things easily. 

Garry realises vegetation growth is a problem, and he said he would need an army to keep the footpaths clear.  They do what they can when time allows, but they do rely on the public to clear areas, unless it’s excessive and then the council will deal with it.
It looks like your council are not being informed of footpath problems, or perhaps they’re just not interested.

I did write a post about ‘Nettles and Brambles’ about a week or so ago.
Louise and I go out armed with sticks to beat down the nettles, and secateurs to cut the bramble shoots.  We only do it about once a year, it doesn’t take to long, it’s not an excessive amount to do, but it does keep the paths clear for us and others to walk unhindered. 

For years now, even long before austerity was invented, county councils have let footpath protection slide down the priority list, despite their statutory duty. The Ramblers’ Association has taken a much more proactive approach to clearing and minding footpaths, though this depends on how active local groups are.

Some farmers/landowners take their footpath stewardship seriously and on the whole these seem to be the best guardians of rights of way. But some try to keep hikers at bay with barbed wire on stiles, ploughing and planting over footpaths, and never clearing brambles (though to be fair if the brambles have hidden a path it probably means it’s not being used).

If you find an overgrown path tell the Ramblers and with luck they’ll organise a walk with secateurs to reopen it.

Update
Paths reported to Staffs CC and to the Ramblers. To add to yesterdays agonies I lost my map. However today I returned and found it, and I also found another impassible footpath, also reported.

Davie  8)

Hi, I live in Staffordshire not far from Harleston, a lot of the paths are now inaccessible. I don't think people walk as much as they used to and the councils are cutting back.

Down stream of the Trent below Burton a lot of paths I have walked and fished along are no longer recognisable. farmers have deliberately allowed this to happen as have the fishing clubs on occasion. Sometimes moving signs and changing routes.

Its certainly a problem around that part of Staffordshire. I did a few walks in the Leicestershire country side not far from Tamworth and the paths seemed much better but it was earlier in the year. I also told the Ramblers Association about these Harleston paths. Staffs Council did get back to me with an automated reply saying they would investigate if time and circumstances permit. I don't expect  any result anytime soon!

I've walked near Canwell too and on the one occasion I came across a farmer she gave me a cheery wave and left the gate open for me. The farmers there are footpath friendly. I've also found the Derbyshire farmers friendly.

Davie  8)

Sad to report that a lot of the less trodden paths around my area of North Staffs can be equally as overgrown in places. Always have to carry a stick with me for bashing down nettles and brambles!

Perhaps if we all took the trouble to complain they might actually do something. You can report blocked paths to Staffordshire CC here

Davie  8)

Perhaps if we all took the trouble to complain they might actually do something. You can report blocked paths to Staffordshire CC here

Davie  8)

That’s a really useful link, thanks Davie.

The Ramblers have an App called Pathwatch which is designed for reporting problems with footpaths. The reports are collated by the Ramblers and then sent to the appropriate councils. Its does a good job of intagrating the GPS data with photos and a short report on the problem and sends them off whilst still in the field. And you don't need to be a member of the Ramblers to download and use it.