Why a Little Courtesy Goes a Long Way on the Coast

Britain's coastal paths are some of the most generous spaces we have. Cliffs, coves, headlands and estuary boards, all knitted together by a waymarked trail that anyone can walk for free. But generosity only works if it flows both ways. A narrow clifftop path in August can carry a family with a picnic, a fell runner, a couple of horse riders and four dogs before lunchtime, and it only stays pleasant because most people follow a handful of unwritten rules.

None of this is about officious rule-keeping. It is about making sure that the farmer whose field you cross, the ground-nesting birds on the cliff, the walker coming the other way and the next person along all have a good day too. Get these habits right and everyone relaxes, yourself included.

Dogs, Livestock and the Simple Four-Second Rule

Almost every coastal path in the UK crosses grazing land at some point. Sheep on Cornish headlands, cattle on Pembrokeshire clifftops, ponies on Welsh and Devon commons. Assume livestock are present even when you cannot see them, because they are very good at standing behind a hedge.

The rule that matters most is this: the moment you see livestock, put your dog back on the lead. Not when you get close, not when the dog notices. Then walk a wide, calm line around the animals. If a dog worries sheep, the consequences can be severe for the animal, for the farmer and legally for the owner, so do not gamble on recall in a field with lambs in it.

• Keep the lead short and your body between the dog and the stock where you can.
• Never get between a cow and her calf. Give cattle a wide berth and do not stare them down.
• If cattle come at you, let go of the lead. Your dog will outrun them, and you are safer with both hands free.
• Between March and July, keep dogs on the lead on clifftop fields and shingle beaches where oystercatchers, skylarks and ringed plovers nest. A single dog can clear a whole colony.

Gates, Stiles and Leaving Things as You Found Them

Coastal gates exist to hold animals in or out, so treat every one as load-bearing. Close it behind you unless it is clearly tied or propped open. If you are walking in a group, the last person through closes it. If you open a gate and a stranger appears behind you, wait and let them through rather than leaving it swinging.

Stiles need a bit of thought with a dog. Small dogs can be lifted across at chest and hindquarters rather than hauled by the harness. Larger dogs are usually best guided over one leg at a time, or sent through a gap while you keep hold of the lead. Never let a dog squeeze under a gate into a field of livestock.

Do not climb walls or fences to save a few metres. It damages stonework, unsettles stock and makes you look like the person who caused the problem the next walker has to fix.

Passing Places on Narrow Cliff Paths

On a single-track path above a drop, one of you has to give way and it should be the person with the safer footing. In practice, that means stepping into a gateway, onto a grass verge or against the landward bank, never towards the edge. Stand still, bring the dog close and let the other party pass. It takes ten seconds.

Faster walkers and runners are not being rude by catching you up. If you hear footsteps or a polite cough behind you, look for a wide spot and step aside. If you are the faster one, ask rather than assume, and thank people who move over.

• Walkers generally give way to horse riders; step off the path, stand still and speak quietly so the horse hears you before it sees you.
• On shared sections used by cyclists, keep left and keep dogs on a short lead.
• Groups should walk in single file along narrow sections and reform afterwards.

Cliff Edges, Erosion and Keeping Your Head Up

Coastal ground is not as solid as it looks. Sandstone and chalk edges crumble, and soft cliff tops can overhang by several feet. Keep a good two metres back from any edge, and further after heavy rain, and stay on the waymarked line even when a shortcut looks obvious. Paths are rerouted for a reason.

Dogs on cliff tops are the biggest single risk on this kind of walk. A scent, a rabbit, a gull and a dog can be over the edge in a heartbeat. Keep them close and, if yours is a chaser, on the lead along the whole exposed stretch. Adders bask on sunny coastal banks and dunes, so give them space and keep dogs from nosing into tussocks.

Beach Days, Tides and Borrowed Ground

Check tide times before you settle down and never let a rising tide cut you off against cliffs. Many beaches have seasonal dog restrictions between May and September, so read the signs at the entrance rather than the car park.

Bag your dog's mess and carry it to a bin, even if that means a mile of swinging a bag. Leaving it in a hedge or under a rock is not a compromise. Take your litter home, keep clear of anglers' lines and slipways, and let the beach look untouched when you leave it. The coast gives us a great deal; a little attention on the way round is a fair price.