www.ramblers.org.uk

Walking for you

Now you're walking...


Photo: Richard Mann

What about pedometers?

A pedometer is a small device that clips to your belt and counts the number of steps you walk. Pedometers aren’t essential, but the simple ones are quite cheap, and many people find they’re a great way of keeping track of your exercise and motivating yourself to do more. Most can also store the average length of your steps and use this to calculate the distance you travel when out walking. You’ll have to take a little time to set up the pedometer to suit your walking style.

You can get pedometers from outdoor shops and sports shops, and through the Walking the way to Health Initiative. Look out for health promotion campaigns offering them at a discount, or see our online shop.

Will I need to use a map and compass?

If you’re following a well-marked walking route in a park, a town or easy countryside, and you have a good guidebook or route leaflet, probably not, though we’d advise you take a guidebook or leaflet even if the route is well signed. Learning to use a map isn’t difficult and is a useful skill: it’ll help you if you get lost, you’ll have more options for diversions and 'escape routes', and you’ll be able to devise your own walks. GPS (Global Positioning System) units work out your position and direction automatically but are expensive and probably only worth considering if you’re doing lots of countryside walking. Map and compass skills are essential when walking in challenging, remote countryside. For further advice see our Practical advice section.

What are the best maps for walkers?

Explorer maps published by the Ordnance Survey (OS) at a detailed 1:25 000 scale (4cm to 1km or 2.5 inches to the mile) are ideal for walking in the countryside. They show public rights of way and access land (except in Scotland), longer walking routes, locations of circular walks and much other useful geographical and visitor information. To find your local Explorer sheet, call OS or visit their website. They also offer a free Mapping Index and a useful introductory guide to reading their maps. Local OS maps are widely available from bookshops and other retail outlets or can be bought direct from OS.

In urban areas, street atlases are often more useful than OS maps: Philips has a good series that includes most paths, available from local outlets. Some local councils also produce good walking maps available from places like libraries and information centres.

If walking is free, why should I pay a subscription to join the Ramblers’ Association?

The fact that you can enjoy so much of Britain on foot for free is thanks in great part to the Ramblers. As Britain’s biggest walking charity, we’ve been working to promote walking and improve conditions for walkers for 70 years, protecting the local path network, helping create signed walking routes, working to establish national parks, gaining new access rights for walkers and getting involved in countless initiatives to improve people’s health and their quality of life through walking.

We rely on membership subscriptions and donations and our network of over 5,000 dedicated volunteers to carry out our work. As a member you’ll get our inspiring quarterly magazine walk, our annual handbook walk BRITAIN, discretionary discounts at outdoor stores, access to our map library and the opportunity to join a local walking group. You can join online now.
 

Pages in Walking for You

See also

Walking for you is a Ramblers promoting walking project. Read more about promoting walking work in Great Britain.