Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time watching sheep. I know that sounds strange, so let me explain…
I’ve always been a city girl at heart. I love the people, the buildings, the culture, the vibe; going to bars, cafes, and restaurants; and attending the opera, the orchestra, and the ballet.
Recently, however, my husband and I have discovered a wonderful new pastime: walking the public footpaths of the English countryside. As an American accustomed to fences, private property, and “no trespassing” signs, I was completely taken aback by the concept of the public footpath—in essence, it’s a right-of-way that lets you stroll through the fields, pastures, and meadows that belong to someone else (how amazing is that?).
The paths are so numerous (and extensive) that books and websites feature scores of walking routes on them, in virtually every part of the country. I imagine one could traverse most of England via footpaths, bridleways, and country lanes.
Anyway, back to the sheep…These footpaths often take you through the very pastures where sheep or cows are grazing. Until a few weeks ago, I’d never been on the same side of the fence as a farm animal, so it’s been quite a novelty to “hang out” with them. In fact, until a few weeks ago, I’d never had the opportunity to ramble through farmland, skip through meadows, or lounge in wide, grassy fields enjoying picturesque views over rivers and valleys.
I’m still a city girl, but one who’s falling in love with the peace, quiet, and idyllic atmosphere of the country…
This past weekend, my husband and I drove out to Cornwall in Southwest Britain. We hiked along dramatic seaside cliffs, picnicked in gorgeous spots overlooking the Atlantic, discovered secluded beaches, explored ancient ruins, encountered wild ponies, and yes, spent a good amount of time watching sheep. It’s my new favorite minimalist activity.
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I’m so glad you’re getting the chance to experience some of the things which make England special while you’re here
We spend a lot of time down in Cornwall and adore walking on the cliffs and beaches. Try the Gower Penninsula in Wales too – more of the same and fewer people 
Hi Joless! Thanks so much for the Gower Peninsula recommendation; my husband and I spent this past weekend there, and it was absolutely gorgeous. We hiked the Cefn Bryn, walked the beach from Rhossili to Llangennith, and explored Oxwich to Three Cliffs Bay. Loved it!
Beautiful! Here in France the trail system is similar. When you’re not actually in a national park (and even within one) you can find yourself winding through someone’s property or through grazing sheep, cows etc. It’s a lot of fun.
Simple in France, I’m thrilled to hear there’s a similar system in France. I’d love to explore some of the French countryside this summer…
Wow, this is amazing and beautiful. What a wonderful system they have. Cornwall looks idyllic. Thank you for sharing this, the pictures are magnificent.
~janet
ps ~ yesterday I threw down the gauntlet and gave up shopping for one full year!
janet, how wonderful to give up shopping for a full year! You go, girl! I look forward to following your progress on your blog.
As a country girl myself, I miss the space now that I’m in a city. I may be moving out to the burbs soon- one selling point is how close the place is to local nature parks.
Aurora, I think living near a nature park would be fabulous!
I’m a city girl now and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else but the British countryside is amazing and I love going out of the city regularly, especially to the sea. Cornwall is lovely – and make sure you get to the Lake District and some of the wilder parts of Scotland. I’m a big fan of sheep, and my most wonderful annual experience is going to a farm in Cheshire where you can ACTUALLY CUDDLE NEWBORN LAMBS!!! How good is that – the lambs really enjoy it, but not as much as I do.
Julia, I would *love* to hold a newborn lamb! That’s definitely on the agenda for next year’s lambing season.
We hope to get to the Lake District soon, and Scotland is in our plans for this summer.
I guess it’s something to do with having grown up in the English countryside, but I find it exceedingly ugly. I look at sheep and fields and the like every day and I detest it to the point that I’ve come to have quite an affection for multi-storey car parks. There’s nothing about the countryside I like or enjoy.
I didn’t realise that our right-of-way system was something you didn’t have in America, though (not that I make much use of it). Walk magazine by the Ramblers will tell you some good walks around the country or in whatever area you’re in.
Fern, I think the right-of-way system is one of England’s national treasures — I *wish* America had something like that. Thanks for the recommendation for Walk magazine!
Well, I enjoyed walking in the countryside when I was married, but now I would be afraid to be on my own if something happened (I should buy a phone!). On the contrary I still walk quite a lot to discover cities, architecture, shops, gardens, people …
the English countryside is awesome, Enjoy !
Hi nicole 86! Do you have walking clubs in France? They seem to be quite popular here. It may be a good alternative to venturing out on your own.
I like sheep, but am very wary of cows having almost been trampled by them while walking my dog in the idyllic English countryside.
If you scroll down on my tumblr you’ll see a photo of a sheep pig – very cute!
Wow, Muji, I’ll be careful around the cows. They seem so docile, and have barely ever noticed or acknowledged our presence. Are they frightened of dogs?
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I’m a former city girl now living in the country-and I want to stay here. I see the sheep and lambs (ours!!!) out my back windows.
How lovely, TrishB! I’d love to have my own sheep (and lambs!) if we ever moved to the country.
Sigh–reminds me of my five weeks’ of rambling through England back in 1980, with no baggage other than a small backpack. It remains vivid in my memory, the footpaths, the sheep and cows, the meadows, the woods, the little pubs with ploughman’s lunches and pints of bitter, the bed-and-breakfasts. Can’t wait to get to Cornwall & Devon someday–my husband was born in Ilfracombe.
Mara, that sounds like a fabulous trip! I think it’d be great to spend a few weeks (or months!) walking and camping in the countryside. Hope you get to Cornwall & Devon soon — you’ll love it. Our trip took us near (but not quite to) Ilfracombe; we headed west through Barnstaple.
So glad you’re enjoying the UK, and our ‘chocolate box’ countryside! If you’re here long enough, try to visit the west coast of Scotland – it’s totally different from most of England, and on a quite different scale (though still pretty miniaturised, compared with wild places in the US!)
Welcome, I hope you stay ages and come back lots
Thanks, Michele! We’re hoping to take a road trip through Scotland this summer.
We have a small piece of property that is patrolled and “mowed” by 6 Shetland ewes. I love to look out and see them peacefully eating, lounging, or snoozing. It just says, “contentment.”
Hi Kim! If we ever have some land, I’m going to use the “lawnmower” argument to convince my husband to get sheep!
lovely passtime. theres just something about sheep…
[...] in New York City or San Francisco, and we’ve even been to cool places like Hawaii and Mexico and England. But we don’t feel obligated to travel. And that is perhaps the [...]
I just discovered this blog, and am quite enjoying exploring the archives!
I have to tell you that I LOVED this post! There is a great joy in simplying watching animals going about their days. I remember years ago at a zoo with a (now ex) boyfriend, spending nearly half an hour watching tortises.
That was before I really got into yoga or minimalism, but there was just something about the joyful simplicity that really stuck with me. We had a great relationship, including a number of vacations, but to this day the memory of holding hands and watching the tortises in comfortable silence is still one of my favorites when I look back on that part of my life.