Discussion: Owners and fences...

I thought the reason we didn't use it wasn't because the wood is not decent but because the whole area is in such complicated fragmented ownership and because half of it is covered by a network of fences.

Might well be - I've no idea. Once you're in the woods there's no real problems with fences (and presumably there's just one owner). The fields etc. aren't hugely exciting anyway.
Must be worth revisiting access given current legislation.