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Spring 2000 - England and Italy

England Photos 4

Bibury Footpath

This is the footpath leading out of the Cotswold village Bibury. We were just starting out on a three hour walk. The footpaths go up people's driveways, through their yards, out into farmer's fields, through fields of cows or sheep. Sometimes you feel like the path might just lead you into someone's living room. These are all public right of ways that must be kept open. Most of them are frequently traveled. I asked one man, as we walked by his house and garage and then out into his fields, what it felt like having us all coming through his property, and he just said "you get used to it". They don't seem to mind.

Footpath Sign The countryside is full of footpaths, as this sign shows. Intersections like this can make it hard to follow footpaths straight from the map. There are very good maps available (1:25000) and they show field fences, houses, streams, and all the paths, so you can navigate your way, but it is difficult. And it slows down the walk when you are constantly looking at the map.