A stile is a set of steps built into or over a fence or wall, designed to let people cross while keeping livestock penned in. Picture a wooden fence running across a hiking trail: instead of a gate that sheep or cattle could push through, a stile has steps on each side that a person can climb over. The steps are too awkward for animals to navigate, but easy enough for humans.

Stiles have been common in the English countryside for centuries, especially where public walking paths cross through farmland. You might find a simple wooden stile with just two or three steps, or a more elaborate stone stile built into an old wall. Some stiles are just narrow gaps in a fence called squeeze stiles, where a person can turn sideways and slip through, but a cow or horse can't.

If you ever hike through rural areas where farms and footpaths intersect, you'll likely encounter a stile. They represent a clever compromise: farmers keep their animals safely enclosed while walkers can still pass through the landscape freely.