Near Canterbury, Kent – 1/10

Oh dear, this extremely sorry looking stile truly is a site for sore eyes and perfect proof that maintenance and upkeep is essential for a stile, otherwise the exposure to the elements of the British weather will eventually get the better of any kind of construction – especially one as poor as this. There is carelessness, and then there is intentional neglect, and it seems quite clear that this is a horrifying example of the latter due to the landowner really not wanting to allow the public to exercise their right to roam. The stile itself certainly does not look like it was ever a particularly great specimen, as though it did have a couple of steps to allow navigation, there would have always been that netting to catch out the unaware.

Just to prove to those sceptics amongst you that are going to claim this is some sort of anti-landowner conspiracy on my part and actually just a picture of a fence, I can confirm that this is a footpath shown on an OS map and I also enclose a picture of the very prevalent ‘footpath’ sign pointing towards this hideous contraption!