Welcome to the British countryside. It’s a glorious patchwork of rolling hills, ancient woodlands, and dramatic coastline, all stitched together by thousands of miles of public footpaths.
But here’s the thing that makes our little island unique: most of this beautiful land is not a national park.
It’s a working, living landscape, full of farms, private homes, and livestock.
So, how do we all get along without it descending into chaos? We have a “social contract” called the Countryside Code.
If you’ve read our Leave No Trace: A Beginner’s Guide to Hiking Responsibly in the UK, you already know the global philosophy. Think of the Countryside Code as the specific, practical UK version.
It’s the official “how-to” for walking in England and Wales, covering our unique system of public rights of way and access land.
But you need a balanced view, and you’re spot on. This isn’t just on us walkers. It’s a two-way street. We have responsibilities, but landowners have them too.
Let’s break it down into a simple, balanced guide.
Part 1: Respect Everyone
This part of the code is simple: don’t be a nuisance. We’re all out here to enjoy the peace, and for some, it’s their place of work.
The Walker’s Bit (Our Job)
- Be a Good Neighbour: A friendly “hello” to a fellow walker or a farmer on their tractor goes a long way.
- Park Like a Pro: This is a huge one. Don’t, under any circumstances, block a farm gateway, a forest entrance, or a narrow country lane. A farmer needing to get a tractor through a gate you’ve blocked is not a happy farmer.
- Let Nature’s Sounds Prevail: This is a golden rule we share with Leave No Trace. Enjoy the sound of the birds and the wind. Please don’t play music from a speaker. No one else on the trail wants to hear your playlist, no matter how good it is.
- Yield on the Trail: On a narrow path, it’s courteous to yield to people coming uphill (they’re working harder!).
The Landowner’s Bit (Their Job)
- Keep Paths Clear: A landowner must not obstruct a public right of way. This means they can’t block it with a locked gate, a new fence, or by dumping equipment on it.
- No Misleading Signs: It is unlawful to put up signs that might discourage you from using a path, like “Private – Keep Out” on a public footpath. It is also unlawful to state ‘bull in field’ when there is no bull.
- Control Your Crops: A farmer shouldn’t plant a crop that’s difficult to walk through (like oilseed rape) directly across a footpath. They must ensure the path is clear and easy to follow.
Part 2: Protect the Environment
This is the big one. It’s our primary duty as visitors: to leave the landscape exactly as we found it, or even better.
The Walker’s Bit (Our Job)
- Pack It In, Pack It Out… All of It: This is the most famous rule, and it’s the one that’s broken most often. “Pack it in, pack it out” doesn’t just mean your crisp packets and drink bottles. It means everything.
- Banana Skins & Apple Cores: Yes, they’re “natural,” but they are not native to a UK fellside and can take years to decompose. They’re also harmful to wildlife. Pack them out.
- Tea Bags & Dog Poo Bags: The new zombie apocalypse of litter. There is no “poo fairy.” Bag it and take it with you.
- The Muddy Path Conundrum: You see a big, muddy patch in the trail. What do you do? You walk straight through the middle of it. Walking around the mud is what widens the path, erodes the surrounding vegetation, and creates a massive bog for everyone else. Get your hiking boots dirty. That’s what they’re for.
- The Awkward Poo Question: If you’re on a multi-day trek and there are no toilets, you must know how to go responsibly. Carry a small hiking trowel. Walk at least 30-60 metres away from any path or water source, dig a “cathole” 15-20cm deep, and cover it over when you’re done. You must pack out any used toilet paper.
- Leave What You Find: Don’t build those little rock stacks (cairns). They can confuse walkers who use official cairns for navigation. Leave the fossils on the beach and the flowers in the field for the next person to enjoy.
The Landowner’s Bit (Their Job)
- Manage the Land Sustainably: The landowner’s responsibility here is to manage their land in a way that doesn’t harm the wider environment, such as by preventing pesticides or slurry from running into rivers and streams.
- Maintain Habitats: Good land management includes maintaining hedgerows, woodlands, and wildflower meadows, which are a vital part of the landscape we all enjoy.
Part 3: Enjoy the Outdoors
This section of the code is all about being prepared so that your day out is a joy, not a disaster.
The Walker’s Bit (Our Job)
- Plan Ahead and Prepare: Check the weather before you go. A walker who is cold, wet, and miserable is more likely to make a bad decision, like climbing a wall for a shortcut.
- Bring the Right Gear: Have you got your waterproof jacket, a first aid kit, and enough food and water?
- Know Where You’re Going: This is fundamental. Don’t just rely on your phone’s map app. Learn How to Read an Ordnance Survey Map: A Beginner’s Guide. It’s a liberating skill that gives you true freedom and confidence.
The Landowner’s Bit (Their Job)
- Maintain Access Equipment: This is their biggest job in this section. Landowners must keep any stiles, gates, or bridges on a public right of way in a safe and usable condition.
- Waymarking: While not always mandatory, it’s good practice for landowners to help walkers by using clear waymarkers (the little yellow arrows) where a path isn’t obvious, especially when it crosses a large field. Walkers are less likely to trample where they shouldn’t if it is clear.
The Big One: Dogs and Farm Animals
This is, without a doubt, the single biggest source of conflict in the countryside. It’s where the two-way contract is most important.
The Walker’s Bit (Our Job)
- On a Lead = On a Lead: When you see a sign that says “Dogs On Leads,” it is not a suggestion. It is a rule. Even the friendliest, most “harmless” dog can cause a pregnant ewe to miscarry just by chasing it. When near livestock, always use a lead.
- Close Control: In areas with no livestock (like open moorland), your dog must still be under “close control.” This means they are within sight and you are 100% confident they will return to you instantly on your first command.
- Bag It and Bin It: Clean up after your dog. Every time. Dog faeces can spread diseases to livestock.
The Landowner’s Bit (Their Job)
- Use Clear Signage: It is their responsibility to provide clear, visible, and polite signs asking you to put your dog on a lead, especially when sheep or cows are in a field.
- Don’t Put Walkers at Risk: A landowner should not keep a dangerous animal (like a bull of a known aggressive breed, or cows with young calves if they are known to be aggressive) in a field that contains a public right of way.
- Keep Gates Working: Farmers need gates that work. Walkers do, too. A gate that is chained shut or so broken it can’t be opened is an illegal obstruction.
Check out our article explaining the best advice for navigating cow fields with dogs.
Conclusion: It’s Just About Being a Good Human
The Countryside Code isn’t a complex legal document. It’s a simple, common-sense guide to being a decent human being in a beautiful, shared space.
It boils down to this:
- We get: The incredible privilege of walking through thousands of miles of beautiful, privately-owned land.
- We give: Our respect to the people who live and work there, to the animals, and to the land itself.
By following the code, we ensure this wonderful “social contract” continues, keeping the countryside a place of adventure and wellbeing for everyone.
For more expert advice on responsible hiking, be sure to explore our full Hiking Skills and Safety category.
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