A family walk near Plymouth. Credit: Tony Carney
Areas, Groups and led walks
Our extensive network of local Areas and Groups is the bedrock of the Ramblers' work for walkers. Local volunteers do practical and campaigning work on the walking environment, promote walking locally and organise a year-round programme of led walks across England, Scotland and Wales. You can join the Ramblers simply to support our work for walkers, but you are also more than welcome to join in our local activities.
Finding a Group near you.
We have around 500 Groups in England, Scotland and Wales, organised into around 50 Areas, which are often (though not always) based on counties. Normally, Groups organise the walks programmes while Areas get more involved in campaigning work, but there are many exceptions.
Most Groups cover a specific local territory such as a local authority district and welcome all walkers but some Groups provide Area-wide walks of particular types or for particular kinds of walkers. There is a countrywide network of hike Groups for people in their 20s-30s, and a number of Groups for people in their 40s. There are also some groups specialising in shorter, easier walks and family walks. You can find your nearest Area and Group using the links on the left.
Try a led walk for free.
Non-members are welcome to join us on all walks in national festivals (see our Events page) and some special events and programmes organised by local Ramblers. Most regular walks are intended for Ramblers members, but you are welcome to attend two or three walks on a try-out basis.
Most of our walks are listed online on our Group Walks Finder. You can search by town or postcode, and by features like the length and type of walk. If you can't find a walk near you, look for your nearest Area and Group using the links on the left. most have websites listing their walks, or can email you a programme.
Types of walks
Ramblers organise a wide range of led walks, from the long to the short and from the easy to the demanding. Most walks are graded for difficulty. Many walks are all-day walks with breaks for a picnic or pub lunch, but there are also half-day and shorter walks.
All walks under 8km/5 miles are highlighted on the Group Walks Finder using the Walk4Life and Active nation logos to make it easier to find shorter, easier walks.
Most walks are at weekends, particularly on Sundays, but there are also weekday walks, and evening walks in the summer.
Children and young people
Some walks are especially suitable for people with young children. See the Group Walks Finder or contact local volunteers for details. If there's no child friendly walk listed near you, contact your nearest Area or Group and see what they suggest.
Please note that Ramblers volunteers are unable to take responsibility for supervising children attending walks. Children under 15 must be accompanied by a parent or other adult with parental responsibility. Young people aged 15-17 can attend Ramblers activities unaccompanied with written permission from a parent or legal guardian. To read information about how to apply for a 15 -17 Year old consent card click here.
More information about children and young people on Ramblers activities.
People with special needs
The Ramblers works to make walking accessible to all and aims to welcome as wide a range of people as possible on its activities, so long as the activity is appropriate for an individual's ability and level of fitness. Sometimes there are practical issues that might affect people with disabilities or with certain medical conditions. if you have concerns about this please contact the relevant Area or Group in advance.
If you are unable for whatever reason to care for yourself independently, or need specific help in order to participate in an activity safely (for example because of an illness or disability), you must be accompanied by a carer or support worker who takes responsibility for your care. This person need not be a Ramblers member.
More information about vulnerable adults participating in Ramblers activities.
How to get there
We encourage volunteers to organise walks that connect with public transport, and there are numerous car sharing schemes. Contact the Area or Group for details.
What to bring
You will need suitable footwear and clothing for the walk you intend to join, and you should also bring some food and drink, even if the walk includes a pub or café break. Leaders may ask people not to join the walk if they are inadequately equipped. When in doubt, contact the Area or Group or the walk leader.
Dogs
Policy on dogs varies. Some Groups allow them on all walks, some on certain walks with the agreement of the leader, and a few ban dogs entirely. If you do take a dog, please keep it under close control, especially on farmland, and on a short lead near livestock.
Join the Ramblers
If you walk regularly with us you will be expected to join the Ramblers. By joining, you'll receive many other benefits and will also be supporting our work on behalf of all walkers.
When you join, if you don't specify a Group you'll be assigned to one of our geographically-based Groups automatically according to your postcode. If you'd like to be allocated to a Group in another locality, or to a specialist Group such as a hike 20s-30s or family walking Group, you should fill in the Group's name on your joining form. You'll receive a regular programme from your allocated Group, but you can also join in walks and activities organised by any other Ramblers Group. You can change your Group allocation at any time: see our Members' Services page.
Note: While we welcome members from all over the world, our Areas and Groups only cover England, Scotland and Wales. For details of walking organisations elsewhere, including other parts of the British Isles such as the Channel Islands, Ireland and the Isle of Man, see Contacts and Links: Outside Great Britain.
