By Patrick Hughes

Copyright bbc

“This is their grand plan for a coastal path when we’re miles inland,” said Mr Orlik.

“Obviously we’ve got tractors, sprayers, farm machinery working. We’ve got horses grazing – and it will probably be a dog poo trail as well.”

Walkers on English coastal paths have legal rights allowing them to roam on land seaward of the path – excluding private property and other excepted land – known as “spreading room”.

Mr Orlik said he was worried this would make things more difficult.

“We won’t know where [the walkers] are, they’ll be all over the place,” he said.

Ms Orlik said that she and her sister would be the next farmers to take over the site.

“It’s going to have a massive impact on us, because the crops that we grow on the farm are for human consumption,” she said. “Obviously, having dog faeces left around the crops isn’t going to do it any good.”

Walking charity, the Ramblers, has also criticised the new proposed route.

Natural England said: “Affected parties have the opportunity to comment or object to our proposals, and these will be reviewed by the Secretary of State.”

Natural England is running a consultation on the plans open to landowners or occupiers until 22 October.

English Heritage said: “The risk the path would pose to the security of the site – including Osborne’s irreplaceable collection – as well as to the historic gardens was just too great.

“We appreciate that this will be disappointing to some and we want to explore with the Ramblers how else we could open up Osborne to its walkers.”