A countryside walk is one of life’s simple pleasures. We have lots of routes to help inspire you explore Britain’s rolling hills, historic villages and farmland. Of course, the countryside is also a place where people live and work, so to make sure it’s a place that everyone can enjoy, follow our top tips:

1. Leave space for farm work and countryside life

   Before you start a walk, take care not to park in front of farmland access points or on narrow verges, as vehicles blocking gates or lanes can cause significant issues for landowners. Make sure you leave enough space for a tractor to get through when parking on rural roads and move aside for tractors or other farm vehicles driving through narrow lanes or farmyards. Even better, try to catch public transport if available!

2. Say a friendly hello to farmers

   If you bump into the landowner or farmer, a friendly greeting can go a long way. Many farmers are happy to see people enjoying the countryside and are proud of the work they do. You might even end up striking up a chat about their work and land.

   Where public rights of way run through gardens or very close to private residences, take care not to linger or intrude upon family life.

3. Give farm animals plenty of space and leave gates as you find them

   In the open countryside, make sure you give farm animals space, especially when they are with young. While it can seem natural to close all gates behind you, that doesn’t mean you always should. Sometimes the cattle will need to move between several fields to access food, water and shelter. So the golden rule is always to leave gates as you found them; either leaving them open or making sure to close them behind you if that was how they were when you arrived.

4. Keep dogs on leads where needed

   Dogs must be under close control at all times while using paths. If your dog does not have good recall or is likely to run off the path, you should keep it on a lead.

   This is especially true when there is livestock present - even well-behaved dogs can react unexpectedly to the presence of livestock. Choosing to walk your dog on a lead can reduce the likelihood of causing distress, injury or illness to livestock. Additionally, dog poo can cause health problems to livestock so you must always pick up after your pooch.

5. Support local farm shops

   Look out for signs advertising farm shops or local produce for sale. Farm shops can be fantastic places to sample the local produce and pick up beautiful gifts for loved ones. Even if there isn’t a formal shop, homemade jams, honey and fresh eggs are sometimes laid out on stalls accompanied by an honesty box so you can pay and be on your way. Keeping some change to hand on country walks can be a great way to support local businesses and treat yourself to a tasty memento of your trip.

6. Admire but be careful not to trample

   Fields of sunflowers, lavender or poppies might be commercial crops so while it can be tempting get closer for pictures or selfies, make sure you stick to paths. Damaged flowers could damage a farmer’s income.

7. Plot your route in advance

   Nobody sets out to get hopelessly lost. But when we don’t know where we are, that’s when we’re most likely to accidentally trespass. So before you head out, make sure to plan out your route, bring a map along and follow waymarks on the ground.

8. If you are asked to leave, stay calm

   If you a farmer or landowner asked you to leave an area that you believe you have a legal right to walk on, stay calm, be polite and move along to carry on your walk. You can always note it down and follow up later, but try not to get into an extended debate or argument.

The Countryside Code in England and Wales and Scottish Outdoor Access Code are designed to help everyone understand their rights and to enjoy the countryside responsibly while walking in Britain, so take a look to find out more about staying respectful and protecting the environment while enjoying the outdoors.

The codes are now available in a wide range of languages, so that everyone can easily access this advice before heading out to explore.

For more walking advice and information about paths, access rights and the Ramblers visit www.ramblers.org.uk.