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If "someone" wanted to ride on the public footpath through Chatsworth (part of the Derwent Valley Heritage Way) . . . what would happen if they met His Gracious Dukeness, out for a stroll? Would he order his flunkies to lock them in stocks for the day? Or would he be open to a nice chat about Inheritance Tax?
Strava Heatmap appears to show the path is well-ridden - but is there any conflict at the moment?
Asking for a friend, obviously . . .
Thinking of the current problems at Bolton Abbey:
https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/the-duke-the-bike-ban-and-the-taxman/
Your friend would be shot
Your friend probably would get frustrated with all the plebs out for a stroll, unless he did it an unpopular time.
Oh no not this again. Does your friend want to have the entire country closed down for everyone?
I remember getting an earful from his bother squad just for swimming in “his” river once.
Given the Boulton Abbey situation, I'm avoiding his graces Derbyshire estate, and avoiding giving him any revenue elsewhere as well.
Given the crowds at Chatswoeth last summer, I wouldn't bank on it being quiet at any time this year. His Grace got upset by the raves and fighting.....
I've ridden on the road through the estate a couple of times. You get in through a gate on the Baslow end. It's not very exciting though and the gate is a round spinney circle thing so if you're feeling nervous about going away. The gate does allow for bikes but you have to sort of shimmy round. I've been passed by staff when riding through and wasn't challenged.
Try the river in a kayak/canoe. The Rangers actively look out for them, and force them off the river when catching them. The President of British Canoeing is a acquaintance of the Duke, he mentioned it once during a meeeting, and was told the policy wasnt changing.
I've said for a long time that we need to organise a mass kayak/canoe passage down the river. He cant stop 200 people.
Access rights in England and Wales are rubbish.
I’ve said for a long time that we need to organise a mass kayak/canoe passage down the river. He cant stop 200 people
I’ve not kayaked for years @alanl but was always under the impression that it was only access via the riverbank that land owners could object to, nothing to do with them if you launch elsewhere and just so happen to float past them? I do recall irate fly fishermen on a few university canoe club trips in the lakes but in general we either tried to stay out their way or just tell them to do one if they got mouthy.
"Your friend would be shot"
Well, in that case, my friend won't be spending money on a cream tea in the Duke's tearoom (unless it's just a flesh wound). That'll teach His Graceness a lesson, won't it?
But seriously, having just read Hannah's excellent article on Access Law, I feel it's my civil duty to trespass.
Be Nice Say Hi Ask Why
I’ve not kayaked for years @alanl but was always under the impression that it was only access via the riverbank that land owners could object to, nothing to do with them if you launch elsewhere and just so happen to float past them? I do recall irate fly fishermen on a few university canoe club trips in the lakes but in general we either tried to stay out their way or just tell them to do one if they got mouthy.
Unfortunately not, the landowner of the bank also owns the riverbed.
There's two legal arguments against that, one is supposedly some pieces of medieval law (the magna carta and something else about the rights of peasants to fish). And the other is that the landowner owns the river bed, but not the water so a canoe isn't on the riverbed therefore it's not trespass.
But the default position in England and Wales is legally you don't have a right to be there. Which is shit.
It's also easier for the landowner to prove you've cost him financially by trespassing as you're going to be meeting fishermen who by and large make ramblers seem polite even on stretches you're legally allowed to be on.
But the default position in England and Wales is legally you don’t have a right to be there. Which is shit.
That is shit. Makes me feel a bit bad for telling fishermen to **** off in my youth then. Actually, no it doesn’t as they were always without fail obnoxious arseholes.
Makes me feel a bit bad for telling fishermen to **** off in my youth then. Actually, no it doesn’t as they were always without fail obnoxious arseholes.
Indeed, my sailing club shares a lake with an angling club. There's a definite heirachy where they're happy to defer to boats, but if you get within a quarter mile of them on a paddle board they go apeshit.
So obviously now I make a point to bang a tack in right up against their peg if I recognise them whilst sailing. And being a gravel pit you can get VERY close.