By Daniel Mann BBC News Online

Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie live on a 1,200-acre estate

Like the landed gentry the pop and film aristocracy also have their rural retreats, when they need to escape London's paparazzi lenses and showbiz spotters.

But some celebrities believe they no longer have the privacy guarantee that once came with the confines of the country.

The Countryside Rights of Way Act allows ramblers the right to roam 18,130 sq km (7,000 sq miles) over mountain, moor, heath and down in England and Wales.

In December anyone will be able to get within 100 yards of Madonna's �9m, 1,200-acre Georgian retreat, Ashcombe, in Wiltshire.

'Eyes and ears'

Parliament has given the Countryside Agency the task of deciding which areas will be open to ramblers and what constitutes public land.

There are easier ways to celebrity spot than standing 200m away; you wouldn't see much, I suspect Paul Bell, Ramblers' Association

Madonna and her film director husband Guy Ritchie have appealed against the decision to turn 100 acres of their land into open countryside.

The couple believe their human rights would be breached and their privacy infringed by allowing the press and fans so close to their home.

In a five-day public inquiry opened on Wednesday to decide the case, their lawyer has argued that the description of the land as open countryside is inappropriate as it is farmland.

But Paul Bell, from the Ramblers' Association, has said he does not understand why the public's right to roam has been opposed.

"The land is at least 200m away. There's a centuries old public footpath that's closer to the house. There are easier ways to celebrity spot than standing 200m away, you wouldn't see much I suspect," Mr Bell said.

Rather, Mr Bell believes that walkers would be a help rather than a hindrance: "Legitimate ramblers will be a deterrent to people who have a criminal intent.

"When John Major was prime minister, Cambridgeshire police decided to keep a footpath near his home open because ramblers acted as the eyes and ears to anything peculiar."

'Legal duty'

Andy Wistow, senior countryside officer with the Countryside Agency, is giving evidence to the inquiry and says fame is not an issue when designating land as open countryside.

Keith Richards had opposed plans to build a cycle path near his home

"The act has a provision that allows the owner to stop people coming within 20m of their property. If they're not happy it's up to them to challenge it.

"We have a legal duty to map everything that's open country and parts of Madonna's estate meet the criteria of downland.

"It's very straightforward: is it open country or not? This is the only ground for appeal, not privacy and human rights. We're mapping everyone in the same manner," he said.

A-List celebrities who have homes in the countryside also include David and Victoria Beckham, who spend time at their home nicknamed Beckingham Palace in Hertfordshire.

Catherine Zeta Jones has a mansion in Wales, Liz Hurley owns a house in the Cotswolds, Claudia Schiffer was married in the grounds of her Suffolk country home, and Sting and Peter Gabriel are two of Madonna's famous Wiltshire neighbours.

'More vulnerable'

Since the 1960s, Rolling Stone Keith Richards has owned Redland House, in West Wittering, West Sussex, where a fan had attempted to gain entry.

If Madonna wins her case the outcome will be looked at very closely because a greater number of people want a house in the country Rupert Bradstock, Property Vision

A cycle and disabled access path was proposed for the field next door, which ramblers said afforded panoramic views.

The guitarist applied to West Sussex County Council to have the path relocated away from the house, infamous for the 1967 drugs bust in which he Mick Jagger were arrested and Marianne Faithful was led away wearing a fur bed cover.

The council agreed and Bill Ancram, council committee chairman, said the famous need privacy and security.

"Someone well known is more vulnerable than you or me. We are well aware of what nutters can do. I strongly feel we should be able to go the extra mile," he said.

Rambling groups campaigned to have the decision reversed and Keith Richards has withdrawn his application, but the council was unable to disclose his reasons.

Rupert Bradstock, director of Property Vision's country house division, says the Countryside Rights of Way Act has been an issue when he does business: "Privacy is very important. Some clients are celebrities from abroad, music and film people.

Madonna has said the land in question is not for public use

"We find out if the right to roam law will affect them. Some will either say let's have a look at the land and carry out further investigations, or forget it.

"If Madonna wins her case the outcome will be looked at very closely because a greater number of people want a house in the country."