Out & About …

… on the North York Moors, or wherever I happen to be.

A wide shot of a vast, undulating moorland under a dramatic, cloudy sky suggesting imminent rain. In the foreground, green and brown heather and grasses cover the uneven terrain, with some scattered rocks. A large, light-coloured rock formation sits prominently in the mid-ground. Further back, the landscape stretches into the distance with rolling moors and valleys, predominantly covered in similar moorland vegetation. Two light-coloured sheep, a ewe and her lamb, are visible in the middle ground, grazing on the green patches. The overall impression is one of expansive, wild, and somewhat rugged natural beauty.

Of Dogs, Grouse and Bureaucratic Logic

My trusted weather source, yr.no, claimed with confidence that rain would begin at noon. The climb from Guisborough had been hot and close under a humid sun. At 11:50, standing on Potter’s Ridge, the sky had turned grim. A few minutes later, the rain came — sudden, heavy, and, in truth, rather welcome.

A sign titled "TO PROTECT MOORLAND BIRDS" with a "NATURAL ENGLAND" logo. The sign states: "Dogs are not allowed on the open access land shown hatched below. This does not apply to registered assistance dogs and dogs kept under effective control on Public Rights of Way. Case number: 2020039098" A red circle with a diagonal line through a dog icon is in the upper right. Below the text is a detailed map of the moorland. Areas shaded yellow with red diagonal hatching indicate "Restricted Open Access Land," while plain yellow areas are "Open Access Land." The map shows various place names, including "CLEVELAND," "High Moor," "Kildale Moor," and "Warren Moor," along with contour lines, roads, and farm buildings. A scale bar at the bottom indicates 0 to 1,500 meters. Contact information for Natural England is provided at the bottom of the sign.
Sign at Highcliff Gate

I had always assumed dogs were banned from Open Access Land. However, a Government website suggests otherwise: dogs are allowed, provided they are kept on leads no longer than two metres from 1 March to 31 July, and at all times near livestock. Fair enough. The time limit protects ground-nesting birds — grouse among them. So, at other times, and far from sheep, dogs may roam free. That said, the wording is vague enough for a lawyer to argue that a sheep over the horizon counts as “near” and a grouse may or may not be “livestock”1Rights of way and accessing land. Gov.uk. https://www.gov.uk/right-of-way-open-access-land/use-your-right-to-roam#:~:text=Dogs%20on%20open,or%20assistance%20dogs..

What did surprise me was discovering that a large area of moorland up here has a stricter rule: no dogs on the Open Access Land at all, lead or no lead. This rule stands until 2030. The reason? Grouse disturbance2CROW & Coastal Access Maps. Case number: 2020039098. https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/497afccfbe7a4db6884b8bedd23121f5/page/Business-Page?views=Map-Key-%2CRestrictions-%26-Exclusions#data_s=id%3Awidget_48_output_config_3%3A0.

It makes no difference to me now. Our dog has moved on to whatever moor lies beyond. Still, I cannot see why this moor, above all others, needs this extra restriction. And why are guide, hearing, and assistance dogs exempt? Are grouse less disturbed by dogs with a purpose? None of it adds up.

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2 responses to “Of Dogs, Grouse and Bureaucratic Logic”

  1. John avatar
    John

    The moorland outlined on the map is Guisborough Estate. If you visit Natural England’s open access website you’ll discover that every other moorland estate has the same restrictions in place, including adjoining estates to Gisborough such as Kildale.

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    1. Fhithich avatar
      Fhithich

      Yes, I realise that. That’s why I’m confused. Why does every moor get an exception?

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