Hi,
I am prospectively purchasing a property that has land. The land has a public right of way. The ROW enters the boundary from an access track and goes in one direction, following a river and then cutting diagonally across a field and on to someone else's land. In the other direction it follows a green pathway (separating "my" land from the neighbours), and then appears to go slightly into what would be my field, then on through the next three fields (all the while keeping close to the edge) and terminating back at the main road.
The seller says they don't have many people using the footpath. They said the one that goes along in the fields has been unused and alledgedly has no terminus to the main road as the occupants of the property at the far end were not aware of it and blocked it off. On an older map I believe I can see the footpath going through their property but on the council website the footpath veers off to the main road before getting to them, so I guess they might've been aware and applied to have it redirected (therefore it does have an end). Apparently, someone, I presume the council, came to replace/install two stiles going from the path, into the field, and then into the next field, but after this it is mostly overgrown with trees and bushes so you couldn't walk through anyway. The seller says they pointed this out but didn't have much of a response, although I note that the rules state that it is the landowner's responsibility to keep a pathway clear.
Neither footpath is near the property itself, but it is something that I have never been that keen on. Has anyone had any problems with footpaths on their land, either with users or the council? Would it be possible for the council to enforce a change to the route whether we liked it or not?
I don't know whether I am worrying about something of nothing.
I have heard of some sort of indemnity insurance - I don't fully understand, but think it is something to do with this sort of thing. Has anyone heard of it, or have it?
Many thanks for any help you can offer... starting to think I'm never going to find a new home