ok I have read this thread and have to say it has made me smile, infact if I wasn't in the office (on lunch) I would probably have laughed out loud at how many people have demanded the right to follow their hobby as it doesnt harm the countryside but said someone elses hobby should be banned, lets face facts
Some walkers litter, damage crops, tresspass and generally upset other countryside user by telling them they should bike, drive , ride on their countryside
Some bikers scare the sh*t out of people by arriving silently and flying past. They also ride where they are not meant to and damage the walkways and when they go off track they destroy many plants.
some off roaders drive to fast in the wrong places and generally rip up lumps of the country side
Some horse riders are damn inconsiderate both on the pathways and fields as well as when on the road, riding 2 abreast on narrow lanes or riding across areas that are not designated for horses.
now before all of those groups call for my login on a spike note the firts word each time is SOME. Just because one person in a 4x4 is inconsiderate doesn't mean everyone in a 4x4 is. If everybody enjoyed their hobby in a considerate fashion then we could all have fun without escessive damage to the countryside,
and just for the record, I have no 4x4, no mountain bike, no horse and I dont go hiking but I dont see why anybody should not be allowed to do any or all of the above.