Stile

A stile, and Stile, North German Stägel, a device by which a pedestrian a fence ( hedge, wall, fence ) is can exceed. When walls is commonly known as wall kick.

Construction

In boards or wide-mesh wire fences of the stile often consists of one to several wooden planks, which are performed at different levels through the fence and form a sort of staircase can be up and descended on the. Sometimes the fencing at this point is slightly lower, in order to facilitate the exceeding.

More elaborate designs operate with each other leaning stairs or ladders.

Occurrence

In Germany Stiles in settlement or agricultural area are rare. They are found mainly in the forest on deer fences and trails in the Alps in fenced pastures.

Much more common are stiles to be found in the UK, Ireland and Scandinavia, where traditional rights of way lead often narrowed down pasture. The English word is stile; its relationship with the North German Stägel is obvious.

Stiles also be created to make off-trail lying inspection points ( ruins, ancient monuments, etc. ) can be achieved.

Benefit

Stiles are constructed so that they can be easily crossed by pedestrians, for livestock or wild but are insurmountable. On the narrow passage woods find hoof or cloven-hoofed animals a firm footing and can not cross the transition therefore.

Disadvantages

Stiles may be insurmountable for physically handicapped or restricted articulated people. Alternatives are self-closing gates or cattle embedded in the road surface cattle grid. Devices such as "kissing gates" or narrow crevices, for example, wheelchair also not usable.