Henfache farm house near Llanrhaedr-ym-Mochnant

Image: © Jeremy Bolwell Taken: 27 Apr 2023

A 17th century farm house I believe with later extensions. The farmer here came down in his truck and asked me "where I thought I was going", as I was crossing his silage crop and was off the footpath. I could see straight away that he was a nice chap, and vice versa I trust too, so we didn't argue the finer points of the trespass laws but I simply explained that a lack of waymarking/footpath signage and any obvious route had wrong-footed me, so I made for the nearest visible exit point, a lane below his farm. He pointed out the correct line of two footpaths and of course I apologised more than a few times; I was trespassing, I had trampled a crop, I was caught red handed and explained that I was a bumbling solo walker temporarily 'lost' and in the process of exiting his fields when apprehended. Initially he was up for an argument, I felt, and said, "We get this a lot. It does my head in!" and of course I sympathised. I could clearly see that there is a problem here; lack of signage and no obvious footpath could lead to walkers in groups blundering around, climbing fences or walls, trampling crops and disturbing livestock. (I made a mental note to contact Powys County Council footpaths officer etc). As we exchanged views we both mellowed and he said, "Lad, don't worry about it!" (Lad! I haven't been called lad in a VERY long time!). We parted on good terms and I patted myself on the back for not calling silage 'grass' and for not pointing out that farmers are supposed to maintain footpaths and rights of way so that these situations should not arise... He could see I was a harmless, possibly even clueless college-boy who had never done a proper day's work in my life and would be an uproarious source of free entertainment to him and his farming buddies and I in my turn felt that we had much more in common than we had that kept us apart, and we would very probably get on very well over a pint or a brew. He did actually trot out that old line, "You wouldn't like it if I came into your garden and trampled across your potatoes!" My self control was admirable (I was still on his land, he on the lane side of the gate so I still felt like a guilty schoolboy caught scrumping!), to which I replied "No I wouldn't!" rather than blurting out "1) I don't grow my own potatoes 2) I cannot believe you've actually said that! and 3) You've probably removed the footpath signs to deter walkers!" or something else remarkably stupid, provocative or inflammatory like, "I bet you're glad I don't have my dogs with me and anyway I'm coming back with a walking group next week!" I do have to say that this is the first lecture I have ever had from a farmer in 50 odd years of walking. I believe farmers in general and this farmer in particular are automatically in the right - they farm our beef, our food crops and tend our landscape and they have a terribly hard task allotted them, especially lately, and I would always defer to them out of simple courtesy, respect and admiration. I have never, ever met a bad one. Most are far too polite, too good a judge of character and too decent to be hostile, obstructive or awkward and most farmers understand that a walker out on a cloudy, cold spring morning on his own obviously loves the land, enjoys exploring and is certainly doing everything in his power to avoid being a problem. We were laughing as we parted and I am sure that this situation need never repeat itself. I really hope not anyway. Lad! I laughed about that for my whole walk....

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