500 Ramblers local Groups carry out our work to promote walking and improve conditions for walkers at a local level. They also organise hundreds of led group walks a week. Groups are organised into Areas, who also sometimes run their own special walks.
A family walk near Plymouth. Credit: Tony Carney
Areas, Groups and Group 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 access, footpaths, countryside protection, establishing and publicising walking routes, helping walkers with special needs and providing a year-round programme of group walks across Great Britain. 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 are organised on a geographical basis and welcome all walkers but some Groups cover a wider area for particular types of walkers: for example our growing network of 20s-30s Groups. 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 walk for free. Non-members are welcome to join us on all walks in national festivals (see our Events page) and some special events organised by local Ramblers. Regular walks are mainly intended for members, but you are welcome to attend two or three walks on a try-out basis.
Many of our led walks across the country are now listed on our online Group Walks Finder. For details of other events please contact the Area or Group using the links on the left: you will find many have their own websites advertising their activities, or can email you a programme.
If you are looking specifically for easy short walks you might wish to also see our easy walks pages.
Types of walks. Our volunteers organise a wide range of walks, 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. View a list of Groups offering shorter, easier walks.
Most walks are at weekends, particularly on Sundays, but there are also weekday walks, and evening walks in the summer. Some walks are especially suitable for people with young children. See the Group Walks Finder or contact local volunteers for details.
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 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: Our 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.
