I liked hearing your take on right of way. Recently I’ve read some articles about how some landowners are pushing back against hikers on a path through their land but apparently it’s often the only way to get through.
Yes, with changes to subsidy systems for farmers with Brexit, you would think it would be possible to reroute some of these rights of way. The farmer receives some money to compensate for loss of land, construction and inconvenience, and landowners with paths running right past their kitchen windows would get some privacy. But I haven't heard of this being suggested yet.
Do you use a walking stick on your hikes? Yesterday my wife and I came across a local farmer on our morning walk who cautioned us to always bring something like that to ward off snakes and wild boar. Keep in mind that we live in a rural part of Kyushu.
I usually find a good branch when I enter a forest trail (as recommended by Ray Mears). Himalayan Ash is particularly good for walking sticks, everything else like cedar, cypress and pine seems to be too rotten for use as a walking stick by the time it falls. I think the Himalayan Ash is an invasive species, but it is useful for some things! They're certainly useful for tapping the ground ahead to ward off snakes, I'm not sure how much use they would actually be for warding off wild boar (I like to imagine I would crouch and the wild boar would impale itself on the stick, but more likely, I'd just leg it). I tap the stick on trees and rocks to create a sharp sound that should alert anything I'm coming, but even so, I've surprised anaguma and occasionally deer.
Very interesting! Hiking in the UK is something I'd very much like to do, if and when I have a chance to travel there again. I just love the English (British?) landscape, the weather a little less though.
I have found online and printed out two old books on the subject: Afoot in England (1909) and The Old Road (1911). I also have - but not read yet - A Walk through Wales.
Soggy, split tea bags…
I liked that description too!
I appreciated the essay generally and the word "squidging" particularly!
I liked hearing your take on right of way. Recently I’ve read some articles about how some landowners are pushing back against hikers on a path through their land but apparently it’s often the only way to get through.
Yes, with changes to subsidy systems for farmers with Brexit, you would think it would be possible to reroute some of these rights of way. The farmer receives some money to compensate for loss of land, construction and inconvenience, and landowners with paths running right past their kitchen windows would get some privacy. But I haven't heard of this being suggested yet.
Now I feel like a fashion victim because I have long loved Mont Bell...
They do make some good stuff! I had some Mont Bell hiking trousers for a long time.
Do you use a walking stick on your hikes? Yesterday my wife and I came across a local farmer on our morning walk who cautioned us to always bring something like that to ward off snakes and wild boar. Keep in mind that we live in a rural part of Kyushu.
I usually find a good branch when I enter a forest trail (as recommended by Ray Mears). Himalayan Ash is particularly good for walking sticks, everything else like cedar, cypress and pine seems to be too rotten for use as a walking stick by the time it falls. I think the Himalayan Ash is an invasive species, but it is useful for some things! They're certainly useful for tapping the ground ahead to ward off snakes, I'm not sure how much use they would actually be for warding off wild boar (I like to imagine I would crouch and the wild boar would impale itself on the stick, but more likely, I'd just leg it). I tap the stick on trees and rocks to create a sharp sound that should alert anything I'm coming, but even so, I've surprised anaguma and occasionally deer.
Thanks for the good and practical suggestions.
Very interesting! Hiking in the UK is something I'd very much like to do, if and when I have a chance to travel there again. I just love the English (British?) landscape, the weather a little less though.
I have found online and printed out two old books on the subject: Afoot in England (1909) and The Old Road (1911). I also have - but not read yet - A Walk through Wales.