Great Britain has more public (0) footpaths than any nation on Earth. The network in England and Wales is more than 120,000 miles long; in Scotland, where the law is (1) different, walkers (2) theoretically enjoy even more open access to the countryside. Moreover, in England and Wales, the right to wander the countryside is supported by a (3) inherent principle of law, itself an (4) embodiment of many of the principles of (5) societal freedom we take for granted.
If a path is in use without a break for 20 years it is presumed to be a right of way. A (6) landowner can prevent this by closing the path just once during the 20-year period; but the principle, and the (7) possibility, of creating new paths always exists.
A right of way is just what it says: a right of (8) passage across someone’s land. The holder of the land may (9) rightly object if the walker does damage, or leaves litter. But he may not complain – (10) legally – if the walker pauses on the path to enjoy the view, or to eat lunch.