Sunday 12th September 2004 saw the first ever international Walking with Neighbours day, when members of the European Ramblers' Association celebrated walking by organising events with walkers from different countries, different regions, or simply from different walking groups. Ramblers volunteers rose to the occasion with numerous special walks and events.
Former Ramblers chairman Cath MacKay and Ramblers Scotland chairman Alison Mitchell (who crossed a record-breaking five borders during the event) were among members who joined over 100 Dutch walkers walking from the south of the Netherlands to a lunchtime rendezvous at Ossendrecht with about 50 Belgian walkers. Those present cheered to hear Cath announce the imminent introduction of new access rights for walkers in Britain thanks to a longstanding Ramblers campaign.
22 Canterbury Ramblers travelled to Guanes, near Calais, to meet members of the Randonneurs du Plat Pays from Dunkerque. The walk took them past the landing place of the first cross-channel balloon flight in 1785, and the Field of the Cloth of Gold where Henry VIII and Francis I signed an entente cordiale.
Clwydian Ramblers organised four walks with Chester Rambling and Hill Walking Club (part of Holiday Fellwoship), including an ascent of Snowdon via Crib Goch and a gentle country walk around Loggerheads and Cilcain.
Driffield and Worksop Ramblers organised a joint walk involving two different Ramblers Areas around Market Rasen. Other cross-Area events involved Ryedale and Cleveland Ramblers who set out from Rosedale Abbey in the North York Moors National Park; and South West Sussex and East Hampshire Ramblers who enjoyed magnificent views on the South Downs Way
Two neighbouring Kent groups, Tonbridge & Malling and Tunbridge Wells. marked the day with two walks starting from Paddock Wood. Organiser Ray Lawrence reports that "everyone said how nice it was to meet and talk with new friends; the weather was good and the countryside beautiful" -- a sentiment shared across Europe today.
European Ramblers Association
