Ahead of the 2026 Senedd elections, we're calling on politicians to make access to the outdoors a priority.

People in Wales are too often finding their way impassable, with a staggering 50% of Wales’s rights of way currently blocked or unsigned. That isn’t just denying people access to green spaces, but also to the health and wellbeing benefits of getting outside in nature.

Path improvements are already underway.

The Welsh Government’s Access Improvement Grant (AIG) is a dedicated fund for access authorities, supporting them to make improvements to public rights of way, open access land and green space. Since 2022, the AIG has been highly impactful, funding 152 new footbridges, 578 gates and surface improvements on over 140km of paths.

More progress is needed.

However, given the scale of the problem in Wales, we believe more progress and guaranteed funding are needed. We're calling on the next government to commit to a 4-year, £24million Access Improvement Grant, tripling its current commitment.

Alongside the positive changes already secured through Wales’s new Sustainable Farming Scheme – which will require farmers to keep paths open to receive funding – these extra funds would make a real difference in improving Wales’s rights of way and open access land.

Further policies proposed

As well as increased funding, we're also calling for measures that will ensure that progress is impactful and sustainable. These include:

A target to remove 10% of stiles (2,300) over the course of the Senedd term, focusing on where this will have the most impact. This will take a co-ordinated effort by Welsh Government, Highway Authorities and land managers.

A cross-sector strategy for walking in Wales, including health, education, tourism, agriculture, transport, planning, sport, and designated landscapes.

A Wales-wide programme to help more people become active through walking, building on previous successful projects including our Paths to Wellbeing project. Giving people the confidence and skills to be more physically active, and to connect with each other and local nature, would not only increase wellbeing but also reduce demands on the NHS.

A renewed focus on education to help people make the most of the countryside safely and responsibly.