Britain's coastal paths are among the finest walking in the world, and most of the time they run across land that is somebody's workplace, somebody's garden boundary or somebody's village. That is the bargain of the coast: you get clifftop views and quiet coves, and in return you share the route with farmers, dog walkers, horse riders, fishermen and families who live there all year round. A handful of small courtesies keep that bargain working — and they cost nothing but a moment's attention.

Close every gate, and leave every catch as you find it

Gates are the single biggest source of friction between walkers and landowners, and the fix is simple. If a gate is closed, close it behind you. If it is open, leave it open — it may be propped deliberately to let livestock move between fields or to let a tractor through. Never assume a gate was left open by accident.

• Use the latch, not the fence. Climbing over a gate or squeezing beside a hedge damages fencing and can create a gap that stock will find before the farmer does.
• Reinstate the fastener properly. A loop of rope over a post is not closed if the loop is dangling. If it was tied, tie it again.
• Stiles and kissing gates exist so you can pass without letting animals through. Take your time, especially with a rucksack, and check nothing is following you.
• If a gate will not open, do not force it. Look for a waymarked alternative or retrace your steps; a broken gate is a real problem for the person who owns it.

Livestock: calm, quiet, and never between a cow and her calf

Cattle, sheep and ponies graze much of the coastal strip, and they are far more interested in grass than in you. Walk steadily and quietly, keep to the path, and give them room. Sheep will move off on their own; cattle often will not.

If cattle block the way, the safest option is usually to walk around the edge of the field rather than through the middle of the herd — but never put yourself between a cow and her calf. Dogs should be on a short lead around livestock at all times, and if you feel threatened, let the dog off the lead so you can both move away freely. Horses are excitable around dogs, so keep yours close and under control when riders pass. Always leave livestock alone: do not feed them, stroke them or let children chase them, however photogenic they are.

Dogs: leads where it matters, recall where it counts

A coastal path is a wonderful place for a dog, and most of the year a well-behaved one can trot along happily. But there are places where a lead is not optional.

• Near livestock, whatever the sign says, and anywhere you see a lambing or calving field.
• Around ground-nesting birds between March and July, when a dog off the lead can clear a whole colony without meaning to.
• Above cliffs and on loose shingle, where an excited dog can be over the edge before you call.
• On beaches with seals, where a curious dog can push a pup away from its mother.
• In villages and car parks, and anywhere you see a lead-only sign — they are there for a reason, usually a recent incident.

Pick up after your dog everywhere, including on remote stretches. Bag it and carry it to the next bin rather than leaving it hanging on a gatepost; a bag on a fence is still litter, and someone has to deal with it.

Passing people: horses, bikes and faster walkers

Sharing a narrow path is mostly about reading the situation early. On meeting a horse, step to the side of the path, stand still and quiet, and speak to the rider so the horse knows you are a person and not a rucksack-shaped problem. Do not stand behind the animal's head or try to stroke it, and keep dogs sitting and close.

Cyclists on shared routes should slow, ring a bell early, and pass wide. Walkers, in turn, should not spread across the full width of the path so nobody can get past. If someone is moving faster than you, let them by at the first safe widening — a simple glance back is usually enough. And when a path is steep or narrow, the person with the steadier footing gives way; going uphill on a loose slope is harder work than coming down.

A nod, a "morning" or a word about the weather goes a long way. Coastal communities are generally delighted to see people enjoying the path, and the walkers who say hello are the ones remembered kindly.

Farmland, wildlife and the small print of a working coast

Follow waymarks and stay on the path through fields, even where a shortcut looks obvious; crops and grass leys are someone's income. Keep to the edge of a field where the path runs beside it, and do not climb walls or squeeze through hedges to save a few metres. If you are asked to take a diversion, take it — it is usually temporary, for spraying, calving or a fallen tree.

Leave nothing behind but footprints: no litter, no stacked stones, no initials in the turf. Keep a respectful distance from seals, seabirds and cliff-nesting species, and never fly a drone over them. And if you see something wrong — a broken stile, an injured animal, an escaped dog — report it to the landowner or the local authority when you get home. That is how the path stays open for the next person.