What lasted 11 years, ate up thousands of pounds and centred on a muddy footpath in an obscure corner of East Sussex?

Answer: the Ramblers' Association's battle to open up a blocked footpath on the fringes of Framfield, near Uckfield.

All that stood in their way was a barn, old refrigeration units, a barbed wire fence and the taunts of Nicholas Hoogstraten, who dubbed the ramblers "the great unwashed".

The controversial tycoon has now struck a conciliatory note by offering a diversionary route which opened to the public this week. But the ramblers appear unlikely to give up their battle.

Kate Ashbrook would probably not describe herself as having a hygiene problem. But the 45-year-old chairman of the Ramblers Association's access committee found herself likened to a ne'er-do-well, exploiting Mr Hoogstraten's infamy to benefit her organisation. By turns Mr Hoogstraten dubbed the ramblers "the dirty mac brigade" and "disgusting creatures".

The ramblers responded by lampooning the tycoon as an unreasonable, arrogant bully.

The war of words centred on a half-mile long path called Framfield Nine, which ran through Mr Hoogstraten's High Cross Estate at Palehouse Common. The ramblers argued that the path, which had been blocked since at least 1989, should be reopened.

Mr Hoogstraten replied by saying there was no footpath, adding: "I'm not having anybody on my land in any event. They will never get away with it. I have been picked on by these disgusting people who have nothing better to do."

Earlier this year he told the Argus he felt aggrieved that the association was using his name for publicity.

Along with councillors and an MP, members staged a ramble along the footpath to highlight their right to roam in January 1999. Within 48 hours barbed wire had been put across the route.

The turning point came early this year at Lewes Magistrates' Court when stipendiary magistrate James Shrimpton decided there was a footpath on the land and that it should be unblocked.

It also emerged that Mr Hoogstraten had nothing to do with the path although he owned a lot of land around it. The owner was a Mr O'Connor, who lived in Ireland and was not present in court. O'Connor's firm, Rarebargain, was fined £1,600 and ordered to pay the association's £3,500 costs. The money has not yet been paid and a warrant to recover it has been sent to bailiffs.

Two months later East Sussex County Council served an enforcement notice ordering the path to be cleared within 90 days.

It was against this backdrop that in June Mr Hoogstraten offered to establish a new route near Framfield Nine. The new path runs across land owned by Hamilton Palace Ltd, which is managed by Nicholas Hamilton, Mr Hoogstraten's pseudonym. The path, which opened this week, begins 40 metres east of Framfield Nine and is about 20 metres longer.

Kathryn Field, Cabinet member for transport and the environment with East Sussex County Council, said: "This is a good opportunity to secure an unobstructed route. However, if the diversion is not successful the council will have to reinstate the enforcement action relating to the current legal route."

Miss Ashbrook said the association would meet this weekend to determine its response to Mr Hoogstraten's proposals.

"We are pleased there's a route again, but it's taken the county council a long time to get even this far. There is widespread anger about the way Mr Hoogstraten treated us and the county council has let him get away with everything. We want to see the route opened up, so the fight goes on."

Mr Hoogstraten said: "I know absolutely nothing about any of this. As I understand it, my solicitor has reached some agreement with the council.

"These ramblers are the scum of the earth. They have no stake in society and are just interested in making life difficult for everyone else."