Ramblers
2188155
224000675
2008-07-06T22:00:08Z
24.126.65.49
/* United Kingdom */
{{Worldview}}
'''Ramblers''' are people who spend their leisure time [[walking]], primarily in the countryside.
==United Kingdom==
In the United Kingdom many attend walks organised by The [[Ramblers' Association]], which has national branches in [[England]], [[Scotland]] & [[Wales]], each supported by a large regional network.
Some choose to see the Ramblers belief in their right to walk in the countryside as part of a long standing class war against landowners.
Ramblers believe that only in asserting [[Rights of way in England and Wales|rights of way]], can such rights be protected from encroachment by land owners. Some such rights of way are ancient, preceding modern roads and vehicles. With modern mechanical agricultural techniques it is sometimes easier for farmers to plough and sow across rights of way than to respect traditional rights and duties.
Where land owners have planted crops across rights of way, some ramblers will walk directly across a field, damaging crops, rather than walking around it. If the planting was to be allowed to stand the land owner could claim that the right of way had lapsed and the right of way could be lost. Similarly in other cases Ramblers have been known to attempt to walk through people's homes and gardens to protect a right of way. Sometimes this will include the removal and dismantling of often illegally placed gates and fences. It is usual for said home owners to be warned that they are infringing a right of way and have an opportunity to allow access before such rights are asserted, sometimes en masse.
Recent court cases has seen the rights that Ramblers seek to protect limited. In the most noteworthy case, [[Ann Gloag]] V [[Perth and Kinross Council]] and The [[Ramblers' Association]] saw an area around her home - defined as the [[Curtilage]] - placed off limits to Ramblers.
[[Category:Walking]]
[[Category:Leisure activities]]