The seven golden rules of visiting the countryside that we seem to have forgotten
Leave no trace: bring your rubbish home with you (and this includes dog poo) - Ian Dagnall /Alamy
It’s that time of year again. When the sun shines, the masses flock to the great British outdoors. And quite rightly – nothing beats a summer’s day on the beach, or hiking in the fells under cerulean skies.
But with the arrival of every man, his dog, 4X4 and picnic blanket, the nation’s natural landscapes become littered with the aftermath of overtourism. Improvised mini-raves and litter-festooned picnics at honeypot sites in Dartmoor and the Lake District show how crowds behave when people are desperate to enjoy themselves.
Last summer, the headlines were almost endless. Among them reports of illegal “fly campers” in Buttermere, Cumbria, who discarded tents, chopped down trees, burnt fire scars into grass and trashed the lakeshore with a tsunami of litter – leaving the National Trust with a £1,000 clean-up operation. In the Peak District, police were called to the stepping stones in Dovedale National Nature Reserve when a fight broke out between men wielding large sticks, after two groups of walkers tried to cross in opposite directions – despite the fact the stepping stones were closed at the time.
With the mercury rising in time for this May Bank Holiday weekend, an amber warning for wildfires has been issued across the Lake District and Cumbria. Authorities are urging visitors not to light BBQs or campfire, which present a significant risk to the landscape and livestock – but will people listen?
Right to Roam would make the point that a fifth of English people live in constituencies with no right to roam at all – and 96 rural seats are “access deserts” with less than 1 per cent of access land. No experience means no education, which means no empathy.
Teaching children, and indeed adults, about the Countryside Code is risibly underfunded. But perhaps some of us have simply forgotten how to behave in the great outdoors? Here’s a handy tick list of seven crucial commandments of countryside etiquette.
1. Manage gates and stiles – and your patience – with care
Farmers may leave gates open to allow their animals to move – so you should leave an open gate open, and a closed gate closed. Use gates or stiles, if possible, rather than climbing walls or fences, to avoid damage. Drystone walls easily collapse if a few key-stones are nudged out of line.
If you meet someone at a gate, let them come first. If you’re with a group, absolutely wait a while so that individuals or a couple can pass before your pack streams over. This is even true if you are hiking with your outdoors-loving children. Let them learn to allow others to take priority. For stepping stones, this advice is especially pertinent.
Follow the leader: keep to paths to avoid widening them - Richard Newton/Alamy
2. Stick to the path – but not aggressively
Some paths are narrow or go along cliff tops and coasts, where too much of a deviation can be perilous. So, keep to the path and always be ready for someone else to pass you.
If you are a slowcoach or flower-gazer, let speed-freaks coming up behind you pass. That way you’ll avoid causing huffer-puffer trauma.
Avoid widening paths by straying into newly formed furrows.
3. Leash and toilet your dog
Dogs bark, chase animals, frighten people, don’t respect paths or gates, and wee and poo everywhere. Keep them under control even when there are no sheep or cows in sight.
Keep plenty of poo bags and scoop up every smelly deposit and take it home with you. Never, ever hang used bags on branches or on gates, hoping a farmer or local resident will come and clear up your mess. For more thoughts on canines in the countryside, read this.
Scoop it up: pick up every bit of dog poo and bring it back home with you - Sally Farrelly/Alamy
4. Keep your voice down
Skylarks, sheep and even screechy pheasants are what people want to hear when they head out to the faux British “wilds”.
5. Get a map, lose a phone
Don’t rely on a smartphone. Batteries die. Connections falter. Google is not the same as Ordnance Survey. Always have a printed map of some kind, providing detailed information on contours and landmarks – and make sure you have basic map-reading skills to use it.
In any case, switch off the phone for a few hours. Give yourself a break from step-counting, photo-snapping and, above all, messaging friends who are stuck at work with selfies of you at beauty spots.
Get technical: don't rely on Google Maps - Craig Brown /Alamy
6. Think about the environment – built and natural
Take your litter home. Leave no trace of your visit. Don’t light fires and only have barbecues where signs say it’s allowed. Forget those nasty throwaway tin-foil barbecue trays: they pollute the atmosphere, produce waste and risk a major conflagration – especially if left cooling while you waddle off. Far better, when in need of fuel, to dine in a local inn and give something to the local economy.
Care for nature – do not cause damage or disruption. Don’t disturb ruins or historic sites; heritage in the natural and built environment is important. Leave rocks, stones, plants and trees as you find them and take care not to bother wildlife, including birds that nest on the ground. Don’t take shells off the beach.
7. Prepare for bad weather and bad luck
Check weather forecasts before you set off. Conditions can change quickly on mountains and along the coast. Conditions in Scotland can veer from pleasant to Arctic in the space of an hour. Do not be afraid or embarrassed about turning back if conditions go awry when you’re out and about.
Look up tide times before you leave to reduce the risk of getting cut off by rising water. Some coast paths make use of beaches and tidal flats. Some rivers are affected by tidal change; it’s not just the sea. Take special care on slippery rocks and seaweed.
Prepare for the worst, like fell runners do. Take a bivvy bag or small tent, always carry waterproofs and something to keep you warm if you have to spend a night outdoors. Leave information with a friend/partner/neighbour about your plans and parking arrangements.
Carry walking poles even if you don’t use them, in case you sprain an ankle – or for someone else. And no, they’re not for clobbering opposing gangs of walkers.
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This article was first published in July 2024, and has been revised and updated.
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