I know what the act enables people to do, broadly speaking, but have a question that I hope someone will be able to answer. On the Radio News the Report said that certain large areas of Countryside are now open to the public. Were there not public footpaths in these areas before, and if not does anyone know why not?

I heard them say "it's still the owners land" or something similar which gave me the impression that it may be private land, but not private land thats someone's back garden kind of thing?  I don'tknow just how I interpreted something that was said. :)

Generally no, there weren't public footpaths before, often because historically nobody had really needed to cross that land! When footpaths first originated they were routes from one village to another for general access; recreational walking was unheard of as everybody was too busy making a living! So great tracts of moorland had no footpaths and were used for growing crops of some sort, whether sheep, or deer, or grouse etc.

Now people have so much mobility and leisure time they demand access to such places, quite forgetting that they now have the responsibility to ensure that they don't jeopardise the livelihood of the landowner but disturbing the animals and other wildlife.
:)

Thank you, I wasn't sure. Fingers crossed the irresponsible minority don't spoil it.

The ramblers site is good for the latest on it.

http://www.ramblers.org.uk/footpaths/law/crwa2000.html

Contrary to popular opinion the public right of access is only in certain areas of the country. I will posively scream if I come across another person who believes that they are entitled to walk where ever they like, when ever they like, and take offence at me being dressed in camo and sat in a hedge. GRRR   

Sorry rant over 

Is it the camo they object to or the AK-47? :D

Thankfully they have only ever come across me with my shot gun :D

I suspect that the problem is that they suddenly realise that they have put themselves at risk :0 Hope they dont start midnight hikes or they may fine themselves in the sights of something a little more powerful!