General news archive

Derek Brockway joined Ramblers Cymru to celebrate the launch his new book Weatherman Walking – The Welsh Coast. The walk went from Merthyr Mawr to Southerndown in the Vale of Glamorgan on Saturday the 14 August.

Working in partnership with National Trails, Ramblers Cymru has announced a series of guided walks over three weekends in September for this year’s Big Welsh Walk to showcase the Offa’s Dyke Path.

To celebrate the launch his new book Weatherman Walking – The Welsh Coast Derek Brockway will be joining Ramblers Cymru on one of his walks from Merthyr Mawr to Southerndown in the Vale of Glamorgan on Saturday the 14 August.

Work to start on planning coast to coast footpath across northern England

Highway Code victory for walkers

If you're heading out walking in the hot weather, make sure you take a few simple precautions to stay safe.

Sustainable Farming Incentives fail to live up to Government promises on access

Ahead of the UK Government publishing its Planning Bill, the Ramblers have joined a coalition of organisations setting six key tests for planning reform

Defra released its long-awaited response to Julian Glover’s review of protected landscapes, which includes some promising lines, but was it worth the wait of nearly two years?

The Ramblers is delighted to be part of the People’s Postcode Lottery climate challenge programme.

Access to nature isn’t equal so GM Ramblers are holding a day of action today to persuade the next mayor of Greater Manchester to create ten new walking routes.

Ahead of May's London Mayoral election, London Ramblers have produced a map showing six new green walking routes they'd like the next Mayor to commit to creating.

London is one the greenest cities, but it could be so much greener. We’ve joined environmental groups to call for the people standing to be the next Mayor of London to make the city a ‘More Natural Capital’.

With more people than ever enjoying walking we have been helping Natural England to refresh the Countryside Code, making it relevant to today’s walkers, and fit for the future.

We’re saddened to learn that Lord Tony Greaves, Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords and Pendle Borough Councillor, has died aged 78.

The Ramblers has joined 250 signatories in an open letter calling on government to reconsider the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which is in parliament this week.

The Ramblers has written to the Times to express dismay at a petition from the Lulworth Estate that appears to blame a ‘younger and more geographically and culturally diverse cohort’ for littering their beaches.

The Ramblers have expressed concerns over the government’s decision to delay legislation that sets the direction for environmental protection and improvement following the UK’s exit from the EU.

Ahead of the Environment Bill returning to Parliament this week, the Ramblers have joined up with a number of organisations to call on the Government to ensure better access to nature for everyone.

The Ramblers has written to the UK Government to express grave concerns about proposals to change trespass rules

Ramblers join group urging the UK Government to rethink damaging planning reforms

The Ramblers are encouraging Londoners to support trials which will reduce the amount of motor traffic across the Royal Parks

After saving five level crossings in Cambridgeshire, Ramblers are celebrating after preventing a further eleven from closure in Suffolk.

Cambridgeshire Ramblers are celebrating after saving five important level crossing public rights of way from closure.

Don’t Lose Your Way reveals over 49,000 miles of lost historic paths

The Ramblers has joined with a range of access organisations to raise serious concerns about plans, which risk preventing and discouraging the use of the path network.

The Ramblers Walking for Health programme is delighted to have received £185,000 National Lottery funding from Sport England.

Kate Ashbrook, the Ramblers chair of the trustees today confirmed that the board has extended the contract of Tanya Curry, interim chief executive, until April 2022.

How we can unleash the potential of designated landscapes for people, climate and nature.

Rushcliffe Ramblers have been awarded funding to support tackling social isolation in their community.

People should have the freedom to explore, connect with nature and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors, read what we have to say on the right to walk in wild, open countryside.

Community action leads to the reinstatement of a path through an estate near Ross-on-Wye.

Proposed reforms to planning process may endanger wildlife, heritage and green open spaces

The Ramblers welcomes PM’s announcement on walking and cycling

Ramblers pays tribute to Vice President John Foster, CBE – a pioneer of national parks

The Ramblers are concerned about the introduction of e-scooter sharing schemes in England.

The worldwide protests that have followed the killing of George Floyd have prompted many of us to reflect on what we as individuals and organisations are doing to end racism and discrimination in our society.

The Ramblers has welcomed the government’s announcement of a new £250 million fund to support more people to walk and cycle and avoid public transport during and after the coronavirus pandemic.

The Ramblers has welcomed the government’s announcement of a new £250 million fund to support more people to walk and cycle and avoid public transport during and after the coronavirus pandemic.

Ramblers current position and advice on walking and the Coronavirus.

With staying active more important than ever during current the COVID-19 ‘lockdown’, for both mental and physical health, a multi-faceted new campaign called #RoamSweetHome has been launched.

Young Ramblers group members across the UK are taking innovative steps to stay in touch while they can't go out walking.

The Ramblers called for the Budget to deliver a better deal for walking and cycling and ambitious funding to protect the places we love to walk – through strong measures to tackle climate change, boost biodiversity and enhance people’s connection and access to nature. Read our response to today's budget announcement.

The Ramblers response to the Home Office consultation on strengthening police powers to deal with unauthorised encampments

Ramblers volunteers in the Lake District have been working closely with other partners to challenge the Lake District National Park Authority’s decision not to ban 4x4s and trail motorbikes from farm tracks.

We have welcomed the inclusion today (12th September) of support for public access as part of the new Agriculture Bill something we have been calling for in our Your Path Awaits Campaign.

Football is coming home and we’ve put together a few routes to guide it back to the spiritual home of football, Wembley Stadium.

A group of the UK’s leading walking and cycling organisations, including the Ramblers, has today launched ‘Moving the Nation’.

Between Saturday 26 May and Sunday 3 June Ramblers groups ran over 1,500 walks across GB – that’s over 150 walks every day!

Janet Davis, our retired senior policy officer has been awarded an OBE in the 2018 Queen’s birthday honours list.

We are disappointed by Westminster Council’s announcement yesterday (7 June) that they are dropping plans to pedestrianise London’s Oxford Street.

The Ramblers and the Town & Country Planning Association have today released a new report on Walking in Urban Parks and Green Spaces.

Ramblers Scotland welcomes the news that Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority has won a landmark legal appeal against the Drumlean Estate, which will ensure walkers and others can exercise responsible access within the estate which sits between Loch Ard and Ben Venue.

We’ve been searching for Britain’s Best Walking Neighbourhood – an urban area that is well designed for going about everyday life on foot. Following a public vote, Hastings Old Town scooped the award.

We’ve launched the very first Britain’s Best Walking Neighbourhood Award to celebrate the places that put urban walkers first.

On Tuesday 30 January ITV will be showcasing Britain’s favourite walks in a new two-and-a-half hour TV special.

A report by the Department for Transport, released today, reveals people are walking less often compared to ten years ago, yet people are cycling further.

Reacting to Theresa May’s speech and publication of the government’s 25 year plan for the environment today, the Ramblers welcomes the positive ambition.

800 years on from the Charter of the Forest, we’re calling for improved access to woodland.

Following the survey on group and area support carried out earlier this year, here are some improvements you’ll notice to your feedback in 2018.

Read the latest update from Walking for Health and get more information on their desired outcomes for the future.

We are one step closer to walking the entire England coastline as Natural England announce that work has started on every stretch of the England Coast Path.

From leading 47,000 walks a year, to clearing paths, or running one of our 500 groups and 50 areas: it's safe to say without our volunteers we wouldn't exist.

The first ever Cycling & Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS) for England, has been recently published by the Department for Transport. We want to make sure that walking can an easy choice for any type of urban journey.

The Mayor of London announced that he will not guarantee public funding for the project.

Broadcaster, writer and journalist Stuart Maconie has been named as our new president.

With the Government triggering Article 50 yesterday, the country has finally started the complicated process towards disentangling itself from the European Union. What does this mean for paths, access and walkers?

Phil Wadey and Sarah Buck are holding more training sessions on finding lost ways across the country.

We've achieved a lot this year together. Our CEO, Vanessa, runs through some of the highlights from 2016.

Following the results of the Big Pathwatch, our biggest ever footpath survey, we’ve embarked on an ambitious week-long path maintenance project to fix problems along the popular national trail Offa’s Dyke.

The Ramblers has today, 14 November 2016, released the results of the Big Pathwatch, the nation’s biggest ever footpath survey.

Our volunteers across Essex, Hertfordshire, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire are responding to proposals being put forward by Network Rail for the closure of 130 level crossings in their Anglia region.

We are delighted to announce that Vanessa Griffiths has been appointed our new chief executive.

After the drama of the tied vote for First Minister, we welcome the announcement of new Welsh Government and the election of the new Assembly members.

The Ramblers welcome Sport England’s new strategy which emphasises increasing physical activity and helping inactive people to become active.

Today the Government has outlined its legislative programme for the coming year. But how will the proposed new legislation impact walking and the walking environment?

Ramblers Scotland warmly welcomes the new Scottish government, following the 2016 Scottish Parliament election.

Fancy joining us? Join this weekend and be in with the chance to win a pair of high-end wellies.

After four successful years, Benedict Southworth has stepped down as our chief executive.

Scottish Council 2016 was a great success with 140 people attending over the 11th and 12th March

We're celebrating today as 58 miles of the England Coast Path is opened between Brean Down and Minehead in Somerset.

Every 5 years, thousands of Ramblers from across Europe come together for Eurorando, a huge gathering of ramblers from dozens of different countries

Let’s get Scotland walking! Our manifesto is full of ideas on how to get more people healthier and happier, enjoying Scotland’s great outdoors – why not share it with your candidates?

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat mayoral candidate, meets London Ramblers to talk putting walking up London’s transport agenda

Ahead of the Scottish budget debate on Wednesday, Ramblers Scotland has joined a coalition of transport and environmental groups backed by the broadcaster Lesley Riddoch and University of Edinburgh Professor Chris Oliver to call on the government to reprioritise its transport budget and spend less money on road building and motorways and more on supporting walking and cycling.

Sian Berry, Green Party mayoral candidate, stepped out with the London Ramblers’ volunteers to stroll down the Thames Path and talk about the many benefits of walking

A taster of what happened during our annual winter walking festival, from 19 December 2015 - 3 January 2016.

Ramblers are disappointed in the announcement approving byelaws banning camping from parts of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.

The Ramblers is celebrating the announcement today that Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss has approved the longest stretch of the England Coast Path so far.

The Ramblers welcome the publication of the government’s Strategy on Sport, which sets out new commitments to get more people physically active and recognises that walking has a central role to play in achieving this aim.

We’re celebrating the government’s confirmation that funding to complete the England Coast Path by 2020 will be protected

Winter is here and to help inspire everyone to get out walking during our popular Festival of Winter Walks we’re sharing our top routes for you to try.

Ramblers Scotland produces a new guide for walkers in Scotland to celebrate its 50th anniversary

The Ramblers Cymru team were featured on Countryfile last night, 8 November, calling for the freedom to explore with a true right to roam.

The Ramblers is delighted that the extensions to the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks have today been approved by Defra Secretary of State, Elizabeth Truss.

Christmas is fast approaching and while you might be thinking about gifts to buy your loved ones, we’re busy planning our gift to the nation as we invite everyone to step out during our annual Festival of Winter Walks.

In response to the Welsh Government’s consultation on improving access to the outdoors for recreation, Ramblers Cymru is calling for Welsh Government to be ambitious and introduce a ‘freedom to explore’, giving people access to all of Wales’ countryside and coastline.

We’re celebrating today, 28th September, as Elizabeth Truss MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, announced her decision to approve three new stretches of the England Coast Path.

Ramblers Cymru has updated and re-issued “Paths for people: a guide to public paths for members of town and community councils”. Download a copy in English or Welsh.

Ramblers Head of Engagement, Daniel Brett-Schnieder, was interviewed on the BBC’s Countryfile last night (20th September) about the Big Pathwatch.

Tiger Bay Ramblers are inviting younger Ramblers from across Britain to join them for a weekend of walking and talking in Cardiff on 13th – 15th May 2016. Book with a £30 deposit by 30th October to secure your place!

All over the country our volunteers are hard at work on our footpaths

Families in Lothian and the Borders are invited to put on their walking shoes and step out with the Ramblers this autumn to enjoy Scotland on foot.

Our volunteers continue you to do great work protecting and preserving the places we love to walk

The Welsh Government has published the long awaited Green paper on improving opportunities to access the outdoors for responsible recreation. Ramblers Cymru will be taking a keen interest in the debates this will generate, and will be developing a strong response that stresses the importance of protecting our path network while building the vibrant walking culture we want to see in Wales.

The White Cliffs Walking Festival returns over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Ramblers Cymru has called on the Welsh Government and Assembly Members to help build a walking future for Wales and make it the best country in the world for walkers.On 9th July Ramblers Cymru presented its manifesto to Welsh Government at the Senedd and seven year old Caitlin Brough, young walking ambassador explained why walking is so important.

Chancellor George Osborne’s first all-Conservative Budget very much focused on his party’s pre-election topics of tax, spending and benefits. But what did it contain for walkers?

Ramblers are celebrating the Court of Appeal’s ruling in the Andrews case, which was heard earlier this month.

Ramblers Scotland has joined a coalition of over 20 environmental NGOs, calling for the Eurasian beaver to be fully reintroduced and recognised by the Scottish Government as a resident, native species in Scotland

Looking for some great hillwalking this year? Then try these incredible routes. These walks take you to some of the most stunning scenery in Britain.

News release from Transform Scotland on behalf of seven active travel and sustainable transport charities (CTC Scotland, Cycling Scotland, Living Streets, Paths for All, Ramblers Scotland, Sustrans Scotland and Transform Scotland)

Ramblers will be in the Court of Appeal this month as, once again, we ask judges to reconsider and then overturn the court ruling in the 1993 ‘Andrews’ case which concerns paths described in Inclosure Acts.

Two of our President's Volunteer Awards winners tell us about their experiences in these new videos.

We’re starting Volunteers' Week by announcing the winners of our President’s Volunteer Awards, as voted for by you.

The entire length of the path can be walked, often using stretches of original towpath.

What can we expect from the new Government for walking and the walking environment?

Try out these walking routes along Britain’s beautiful coastal paths this summer. They’re free to view and come with a printable OS maps.

Step out and explore Wales on foot with your family this half term and have fun with the Big Welsh Walk. From a teddy bears picnic walk to an under the sea themed adventure there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Have you been out on a Big Welsh Walk this May? Wondered how our footpaths stay open and useable? Ramblers Cymru has many volunteer footpath maintenance teams who dedicate time to repairing and improving the footpath network.

What does the Conservative party triumph and the return of Mr Cameron mean for walkers and our ambition to build a walking Britain?

Big Welsh Walk kicked off today with a fabulous walk on the Wales Coast Path in Penarth. Ramblers Cymru Director, Angela Charlton was joined by our partners and supporters to launch our month long celebration of walking in Wales. Check out a taster of what Big Welsh Walk has to offer.

Dick Balharry, one of Scotland’s leading and highly respected conservationists and Vice President of Ramblers Scotland (RS) has died following his battle with cancer.

Introduction to our newly formalised group, Tayside Young Walkers. We’ve been working closely with the group, assisting them to develop, grow and strengthen. The group is aimed at people in their 20s, 30s and 40s.

On 24 April the Pennine Way celebrates its 50th anniversary. To celebrate the anniversary we’re giving free access to one of our favourite walking routes, which begins at the start of the Pennine Way, continues up Kinder Scout, and includes a long section along the famous trail.

It may still be winter on the hills, but there are still plenty of places to walk this weekend, says Ramblers Scotland

The very last day of the Parliamentary session before the General Election saw the Deregulation Bill receiving Royal Assent. This last formality means that the Bill is now an Act, and that the package of measures intended to improve the processes surrounding the recording of paths on official definitive maps is now law.

To help and support our volunteers, a new programme of Volunteer Development Days has been planned for 2015.

Presenting the government’s budget this afternoon Chancellor George Osborne declared that "Britain is walking tall again". So does that mean he’s pulling on his walking boots, stepping out on foot and seeing how it contributes to Britain’s growing outdoors economy?

Walkers are one step closer to being able to enjoy greater access to the coast of England as Natural England publish their timetable to create a new National Trail - the England Coast Path - by 2020.

Shadow DEFRA Minister Barry Gardiner MP steps out with the Mid Sussex Ramblers to discuss the benefits of walking.

Enter our raffle now to for your chance to win £5, 000 in cash.

The push to improve the processes surrounding the recording of historic paths on official maps has passed another milestone.

We have joined eight other environment and conservation organisations in signing a joint letter calling for an overhaul of the Scottish planning system

You don’t always need to venture out into the hills to find a great walk - some of the best walks in Britain are hidden in and around our great cities.

Ramblers Scotland has submitted a response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the Land Reform Bill.

Ramblers Scotland has joined 5 other organisations in signing a joint letter calling on the Scottish Government to improve its approach to assessing planning applications relating to wind farm developments. developments. In each case the government is perceived to have disregarded the submissions made by its own advisors and statutory consultees, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).

We're raising the profile of landscapes in the run-up to the general election.

The times they are a-changing. And we need to keep up. So, over the next few weeks you’ll notice some improvements to our website.

Scotland’s rambling and mountaineering organisations today joined forces to express serious concerns over the recent consultation by Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park Authority on proposed byelaws to ban camping from large areas of low ground within the park.

If you’ve got a new year resolution to do more exercise, burn off the festive indulgence, or just enjoy the outdoors more, these walks are bound to inspire you.

From dog-walkers or people who commute to work on foot, to regular Munro-baggers and hardy hikers, Ramblers Scotland is calling on all regular walkers to have their say about the great outdoors and help shape a new 10-year vision for walking in Scotland.

Scottish Gathering to be postponed till 2016 in order to refresh the format

Recognise a volunteer or team of volunteers who have done something special. The President's Volunteer Awards are an opportunity to celebrate and highlight the successes of our volunteers. Anyone is able to nominate somebody for an award.

Today we’re celebrating the Government’s announcement that more than £5.3 million has been committed to ensure the England Coast Path will be completed and open for all to enjoy by 2020, ten years earlier than was originally planned.

It may come as no surprise that both coalition parties are seeking to sweeten the years of belt-tightening austerity but the extra investment in infrastructure and health has particularly attracted our attention.

We have been walking and talking with MPs during Parliament Week and take part in the House of Commons event 'In the House'

On Wednesday 12 November, Camel Ramblers were joined by their local MP and Minister for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Dan Rogerson for a five mile walk on the inland footpaths near Wadebridge.

We’re excited to hear we’ve been shortlisted for the Public Affairs Awards 2014 for our ‘One Coast for All’ campaign.

With amendments to the Infrastructure Bill currently being given consideration we highlight the most recent developments and our position on its many proposals.

Ten of the leading health and social care charities have launched a new report today – What is preventing progress?. Stressing the need for action to tackle common risk factors for preventable disease, the report calls on all political parties to make prevention a top priority.

We've been working with Clober Primary School in Milngavie to design signage for a path around Mains Estate in Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire.

Probably not. If you go down to the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise, because disappointingly, only a third of woodland in England is currently available for people to fully explore.

On the day that the Scottish Parliament discusses the proposed Rannoch Moor wind farm and the future of Wild Land in Scotland one of Scotland’s longest serving environmental campaigners leaves his desk.

On Friday Ramblers Chief Executive Benedict Southworth joined local Ramblers members for a short walk in the Peak District with Sheffield MP and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

Where can you stray from the beaten track, wander wherever you want and find your own path through the wilderness?

Today we’re celebrating the government’s announcement that the entire English Coast Path will soon be open for walkers.

Patients diagnosed with two of the most common cancers (breast and prostate) could reduce their risk of dying by walking just one mile a day, according to new calculations by Walking for Health, run by Macmillan Cancer Support and the Ramblers.

The Minister for Health and Social Services supported the launch of the new Lets Walk Cymru website making it easier for people in Wales to start walking towards a healthy future.

We are inviting visitors to the Eisteddfod to join us for a walk and discover there’s something for everyone with the Ramblers. Come and find out more about all the ways you can get involved.

Government announces work is to start on the implementation of the England Coast Path from Brean Down to Minehead in Somerset.

Ramblers Scotland has objected to a proposal to construct a 24-turbine wind farm at Talladh-a-Bheithe on Rannoch Moor, between Loch Rannoch and Loch Ericht. The turbines, at 125m in height to the blade tip, would be visible from such iconic mountains as Ben Alder and Schiehallion.

Bring out the ice-creams because today we’re celebrating the government’s announcement to create a path along the entire Isle of Wight coastline.

Ramblers Scotland is calling on everyone in Scotland to follow the inspiration of the Commonwealth Games and make a pledge to get outdoors and get active on the weekend of 9-10 August.

The Infrastructure Bill had its second reading in the House of Lords on 18 June. Ahead of the reading we briefed seventy peers on our response to the proposals.

For the first time, Scotland now has a high level commitment to develop a national walking and cycling network within the National Planning Framework which was published yesterday. When fully developed, this network of long distance routes will enable people to exploit the opportunities on their doorsteps for walking and cycling, both for leisure purposes and for everyday trips.

Ramblers Scotland has welcomed the Scottish Government’s announcement on the greater protection of wild land through the ban on any wind farms in National Parks or National Scenic Areas and the adoption of Scottish Natural Heritage’s map of core wild land areas.

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has reiterated that English farmers must maintain public rights of way or face losing EU subsidies.

We joined other outdoor organisations in Westminster to launch a new report which shows the popularity of outdoor activities and the benefits it brings for the UK economy.

Walkers' advice that the Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) is preparing for an essential improvement programme on Ben A’an in the Trossachs.

On 3 May, Huntingdon MP Jonathan Djanogly joined local Ramblers for a walk through Ouse Estuary Nature Reserve.

The Welsh Government’s announcement of a Green Paper focused on Rights of Way misses the opportunity to deliver a bolder vision for access in Wales.

In the run up to the 2015 General Election we’ve been encouraging our local groups to go for a walk with their MP.

Our work to protect the places we walk and encourage people to get out walking for both health and leisure wouldn’t be possible without the help of our thousands of dedicated volunteers.

With today’s State Opening of Parliament the coalition government has published legislation it intends to pass into law before next year’s General Election. Here's our take on the Queen's Speech.

New figures have revealed our volunteers contributed the equivalent of almost £1million last year through their time and efforts helping to improve the countryside and paths we walk along.

There are plenty of Ramblers walking festivals taking place around the country this summer. Led by our walking experts, these are bound to be extra special events, so why not pull on your boots and get involved?

Us walkers owe the bootleggers and pirates of yesteryear a huge debt of thanks. Because without their centuries-old legacy of clandestine tracks, we’d be robbed of some of the most thrilling trails these isles have to offer.

We’ve come together with other organisations to urge David Cameron to create a new public body to manage our woodland forever.

The Peak District National Park Authority have today implemented a ban on motor vehicles using the historic Chapel Gate path near Edale.

Congratulations to our very own Walking Class Hero who has won a UK Blogger Award 2014 for his sideways look at walking.

During Get Walking Week thousands of people stepped out on one of our group led walks and discovered the wonders of walking.

We’re calling for a review of the legislation around bulls being kept in fields with footpaths passing through them following the recent trial over the death of walker Roger Freeman.

According to a YouGov survey we commissioned, an alarming 34% of people would not consider walking for more than 20 minutes when planning a journey.

Last week (21-26 April) nine Ramblers groups helped launch the John Muir Way, a new national long distance route, by leading a series of walks from its start in Dunbar through to the end point in Helensburgh, a distance of 134 miles in total.

This spring, Wales is a nation on it’s feet, looking to get healthier. The Big Welsh Walk is around the corner and results from the Wales Pedometer Challenge so far are showing that we’re a country prepared to take a step in the right direction.

The second annual Spirit of Kinder Day took place in Sheffield on Saturday, marking the 82nd anniversary of the mass trespass on Kinder Scout in what is now the Peak District. The trespass took place at a time when much of the countryside was out of bounds to the public and was a pivotal event in the access movement which led to the creation of National Trails and National Parks.

Yesterday we hosted a reception at parliament to talk to politicians about how they can help us build a walking Britain.

Our short walks festival, Get Walking Week from 3 May - 10 May, is the perfect opportunity to get out more on foot.

Easter is an ideal time to head out walking and we've joined up with the NFU to remind people how to stay safe when enjoying the countryside this spring.

We’ve put together some ideas for a walking-packed Easter break, from joining an outing with one of our local groups to organising your own adventures with family and friends.

An Ordnance Survey scheme encouraging people to trade in old maps for new has been hugely successful, with almost 4,500 maps, some nearly a century old, returned so far. The offer runs until the end of April.

We've put together a photo gallery from General Council, our annual conference, to give you a feel for this year's event.

Our annual conference, held in Liverpool at the weekend, was an opportunity to celebrate successes, debate walking and outdoor issues and hear from special guests as well as enjoy the walking opportunities on offer around the city.

We’ve picked seven stunning walking routes for you to enjoy this spring and with Mother’s Day and Easter just around the corner there are plenty of good excuses to go exploring on foot with family and friends.

Chancellor George Osborne yesterday unveiled the Government’s budget for the next year. We were keeping a lookout for what was in it for walkers.

Gift Your Gear is a nationwide initiative which provides young people across the UK with outdoor clothing and equipment so they can explore the great outdoors. If you’ve got gear you no longer need Gift Your Gear can give it a great new home.

Time is running out to have your say in this year’s President’s Volunteer Awards which recognise the achievements of our volunteers in the last year. Make sure you vote for your favourite nominees in the six awards categories before voting closes on Friday 21 March.

Our short walks festival runs from 3-10 May and there are lots of ways to get involved whether it’s joining one of our local walks, organising your own outing with friends and family or making a simple change to include more walking in your daily routine.

Hundreds of walkers will be coming together to discuss issues affecting our use and enjoyment of the outdoors at our annual conference in Liverpool from 29-30 March and we’re starting the conversation now so you can get involved.

Walk magazine Editor Dominic Bates reveals his top picks from the latest issue of our magazine from hostel hikes in England and Wales to the John Muir Way.

We received over 50 nominations for Ramblers volunteers, groups and areas whose achievements you thought deserved celebrating at our President’s Volunteer Awards. The shortlist has now been unveiled and you can vote to decide the winners.

Another 13 National Nature Reserves in England have been permanently opened up to walkers as part of an on-going programme to give people access to some of the country’s most inspiring landscapes.

The Farmer’s Guardian and National Sheep Association are inviting dog owners to complete a short online survey about how your dog behaves when out in the countryside. The survey looks at topics such as letting dogs off leads and how dogs behave near livestock.

The Cirencester Ramblers are celebrating 40 years out on the trail throughout 2014 with a series of social events and special walks tracing the routes of original outings made during the group’s inaugural year.

Following the recent flooding and severe weather we've put together some safety advice for walkers. We'd also like to know how you've been affected out walking.

If you know of a Ramblers volunteer, group or area whose achievements deserve celebrating you can help give them the recognition they deserve by nominating them for our volunteer awards by 16 February.

Cotswold Outdoor share their tips for keeping your walking boots in top condition, from how to remove mud and re-proofing to the best way to dry your boots. Read their step by step guide or watch a video.

A new report launched today by ukactive reveals the staggering levels of physical inactivity in England and urges the Government to do more to deal with this growing problem.

New research shows that a positive approach to life can improve your walking speed and contribute to healthy ageing.

Find out what’s going on at the Telegraph Outdoor Adventure & Travel Show from 13-16 February and what we’ll be up to during it!

Visitors to the Peak District National Park are being encouraged to help identify 'dark sky sites' - places where there is minimal light pollution and stars are clearly visible - by searching out the constellation of Orion this winter. By recording the quality and location of dark sky sites within the park, it's hoped parts of it and the surrounding area could be put forward for international recognition as a Dark Sky Park.

Could you walk the distance of the Wales Coast Path or the number of steps it would take to climb Snowdon, Cadair Idris and Pen y Fan? Let's Walk Cymru, Ramblers Cymru and Change4Life Wales are helping everyone in Wales get on their feet with the Wales Pedometer Challenge.

Ramblers Scotland is starting a new walking group in Tayside which aims to provide people with the opportunity to get outdoors on foot, take part in other outdoor activities and enjoy a social scene.

A new website dedicated to the 15 National Trails in England and Wales has been launched featuring Ordnance Survey mapping, recommended itineraries and suggestions from trail users, making it easier to walk these inspiring long-distance routes.

Following a long campaign by the area’s many fans, the popular walking destination of the Lake District will be put forward as the UK’s next World Heritage nomination in 2016.

Our annual winter walking festival saw people turn out in their droves from 21 December to 5 January for bracing strolls in the crisp cold rewarded by mince pies, carols and a sense of satisfaction all round.

Ramblers guest blogger Cumbrian Rambler wants to encourage kids to get outside more and is inviting parents, guardians and teachers to email her ‘postcards’ from young adventurers explaining in their own words what’s so great about the outdoors.

Six of England’s finest wildlife and geological sites have now been permanently opened up for people enjoying the outdoors on foot with more to follow.

We’ve come up with twelve walking-related resolutions for the coming year and we’d love to hear what yours are too.

Do you know of a Ramblers volunteer, group or area whose achievements deserve celebrating? If you do you can nominate them for our President’s Volunteer Awards, which will be presented at our General Council in March 2014.

Our Chief Executive Benedict Southworth presents his selection of the most inspiring walking routes of 2013 to entice you into the great outdoors, chosen from our growing online library of downloadable walking routes.

We’ve looked back at the last year and picked 12 successes we’ve achieved thanks to the help of our volunteers, members and supporters which have benefitted walkers everywhere.

Want to experience midwinter on Wales’ highest peak? Fancy a Christmas morning stroll to work up an appetite for the turkey? Our Festival of Winter Walks has this and plenty more in store from 21 December to 5 January.

One year on from the launch of our new website, Web Editor Emma Bovill gives her top ten picks from ramblers.org.uk.

For the last three months people across the country have been telling us what matters to them about the outdoors - from good public transport in rural areas to the importance of getting kids active outside - and there’s still time to get involved and have your say.

We ran a poll to find out how much visitors to our website walk a week on average – and the results were encouraging! Find out about opportunities to go walking this winter and how to enter our next poll.

Walking Works, the report we produced with Macmillan Cancer Support, revealed the wonders of walking and its benefits to our health, the economy and the environment. We’ve taken a look at some of its more extraordinary findings about the ways walking can change not only our own lives but also the world around us.

Pull on some thick socks, grab your gloves and hat and get into the festive spirit – the Festival of Winter Walks is coming to town and there’s even more to get excited about this year.

Walk magazine Editor Dominic Bates gives us his top picks from the winter issue, plus find out about Walk's new online home on the Ramblers website.

This week experts from across the outdoor industry gathered to talk about the challenges facing the future of the great outdoors. Our 'Big Discussion' brought together charities, industry professionals and outdoor user groups to address the big issues.

Ramblers Scotland is calling for Scotland’s third national park to be established on the Isle of Harris and for a western extension to the Cairngorms National Park boundary.

Bangor and Bethesda Ramblers welcomed the Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Dr Ruth Hussey OBE, on their walk in Aber last weekend.

Show your support for the Ramblers and vote for us in the Great Outdoors Awards before 10 November.

Check ascents and descents on Ramblers Routes using our route profile tool and know the lay of the land before you head out on your next walking adventure.

Ramblers President Kate Ashbrook and our One Coast For All campaign for the England Coast Path have been nominated in the Great Outdoors Awards 2013. Have your vote before 10 November.

Over a thousand people have already told us what impacts their enjoyment of the outdoors and there’s still time to share your own views.

The Active Travel Act aims to improve routes and facilities for walkers and cyclists in Wales.

We’ve launched a new area of the website featuring in-depth advice on rights of way and access issues as well as the latest queries our Walk magazine experts have been setting their minds too.

We ran a competition this summer to celebrate the launch of our first ever family walking pack featuring the National Trust Stackpole estate in Pembrokeshire. Find out who won!

The Thames Path has been voted the second best urban walk in the world in a new Lonely Planet guide published this month.

We’ve produced an infographic to show what people have been saying as they join our big conversation about the great outdoors. Get inspired and find out how you can get involved.

In the lead up to the next election we’ve been out walking with MPs across England to show them what we do at a local level and tell them about our work for walkers everywhere.

Google has been capturing off road routes in Britain on camera with the help of Canal & River Trust volunteers as it expands the places accessible via its Google Maps Street View technology.

A big conversation about the outdoors can take many forms, from a casual chat with friends over a post walk pint to a lively discussion amongst outdoor enthusiasts, and there’s plenty to talk about. Make sure your views are heard by getting involved.

We’ve got lots of walking routes to inspire you for the season ahead, including over 200 woodland walks to choose from.

We’ve started a big conversation all over the country to help us decide what we should be doing over the next ten years. Ramblers vice-chair Naseem Akhtar believes we need to tackle the nation’s obesity problem and wants to know what you think too.

Our big conversation about the outdoors, and what we can do to help keep it great, officially launched this week with outdoor enthusiasts gathering in the Peak District to share their views. Find out what they had to say and how you can get involved.

Should Scotland have a national tree? And if so, what would it be? The Rowan with its bright berries, the silvery Birch, the gnarled and ancient Scots Pine, or the fluttering Aspen? You can help choose.

Stuart Dyer of the Cirencester Ramblers led a walk from the source of the Thames on Sunday 1 September, getting underway a relay along the river.

We all love the outdoors, but is there anything that would make you enjoy it even more? And what can we do to make it happen? We’ve started a big conversation with people all over the country and we want to hear from you.

If you love hearing about all the latest walking news and views you’ll be pleased to know you can now find blogs on the Ramblers website and can even get involved by becoming a Ramblers blogger yourself.

There’s no need to mourn for summer thanks to the arrival of the latest edition of our magazine, Walk, which is packed with walking ideas for the autumn ahead. Editor Dominic Bates gives us his top picks from the latest issue.

Stuart Dyer of the Cirencester Ramblers will be leading a walk from the start of the Thames on Sunday 1 September, kicking off a source to sea relay along the iconic river which will take place over more than a fortnight.

From great days in the outdoors to social activities like ceilidhs, the Edinburgh Young Walkers show just how much fun you can have as a Ramblers member!

Britain’s largest walking and outdoor leisure holiday specialist are opening the doors of two of their country houses on 6 October and will be running local walks to give you a taster of what an HF Holidays walking holiday is all about.

The Shropshire Young Ramblers undertake a wide variety of walks all over Shropshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire and Wales and even took on the 4,167m Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in the Atlas Mountains and North Africa, in May.

Born 160 years ago this month, the nineteenth century rambler Edmund Seyfang Taylor, who wrote walking guidebooks under the pseudonym “Walker Miles”, has found a place in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

The days are still long in August which means there’s still plenty of time to enjoy an evening walk near you with one of our groups or exploring on your own using our collection of walking routes.

You voted walking beside the sea as the best place to walk in summer in our recent poll – find out about great places to walk on the coast and how to enter our next poll!

The Oxon Weekend Walkers have produced a video - find out what they get up to on their weekend walks!

With National Parks Week and Love Parks Week underway there’s no better time to get out and explore a park on foot, whether it’s your local green space or one of Britain’s 15 National Parks.

Visually impaired walker Marika Kovacs achieved her goal of leading a group walk earlier this summer, taking ten Ramblers members on a walk in Herefordshire.

The 84 mile, coast to coast Hadrian's Wall path celebrates its 10th anniversary with a programme of walking events this summer.

Members of the Cirencester Ramblers led a short walk from Adlestrop, Gloucestershire, for a feature on the ITV programme Saturday Farm.

Choose from our collection of great seaside walking routes around the British coastline.

A bench in memory of Tony Drake has been unveiled on the Cambrian Way.

The National Farmers’ Union’s ‘Love Your Countryside’ drive is encouraging people to get outdoors and enjoy the British countryside responsibly this week and beyond.

We've organised a walk celebrating the history of Neath Abbey and the Cwm Valley as part of a new partnership with Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service.

We've been working with youth charity Youth Cymru and HF holidays to share our path maintenance skills with young people in North Wales.

As the weather finally heats up and more people head out for a walk in the countryside, we’re reminding people to take care when walking through fields with livestock.

With the days getting longer there’s even more reason to get out and explore Britain using one of our expertly developed and checked walking routes.

We’re celebrating our volunteers and the work they do for walkers and are inviting you to get involved as one of the many organisations across the UK saying a thank you during Volunteers’ Week to people who volunteer.

From its routes in Lancashire to destinations worldwide, HF Holidays celebrates 100 years of offering walking holidays today as it marks its centenary.

Enjoy a working break in Cornwall helping to restore an inland path and exploring some of the walking opportunities near St Ives on our first ever path maintenance holiday.

Walk magazine Editor Dominic Bates gives us his top picks from the latest issue – out this week – which has a distinctly Scottish flavour.

We asked you to get snapping during Get Walking Week and send us photos that summed up what you love about walking. Take a look at the winning entries!

Ramblers members and friends will be coming together to celebrate the life and achievements of the late Tony Drake MBE on Wednesday 22 May.

See what walkers got up during Get Walking Week from 4-11 May.

As part of Get Walking Week, Ramblers staff headed out on a celebration walk around 'Hidden Vauxhall'.

John Griffiths AM Minister for Culture and Sport joined us for a Big Welsh Walk and Coast Path celebration day in Kidwelly yesterday.

Join a Get Walking Week walk from 4-11 May and take a picture which sums up what you love about walking during it and you could win some fantastic prizes including a walking break for two!

We’re looking for walkers with an eye for detail to help quality-check our growing online collection of walking routes.

Win a fantastic goodie bag

Ramblers Cymru has been working with Merthyr Youth

After the slow start to spring in Scotland following the pre-Easter snowfall, Ramblers Scotland and Scottish Land & Estates are urging walkers to take care around animals and keep dogs under close control.

To celebrate the Big Welsh Walk 2013, HF Holidays is giving away a fantastic family holiday.

Our short walks festival Get Walking Week takes place from 4-11 May and there are hundreds of free group walks on offer to help people discover the joys of exploring the outdoors and their local area on foot.

Rights Of Way: A Guide to Law and Practice – the definitive guide to rights of way law known as the ‘Blue Book' – turns 30 this year. Ramblers Senior Policy Officer Janet Davis and Waymark magazine have been helping wish it a happy birthday.

Wander through hues of blue as Britain’s bluebells come into bloom.

Following recent snowy weather across parts of the UK we’re recommending walkers plan ahead before setting out on a walk over the Easter break.

In light of new plans to manage ash dieback in the UK revealed by Defra, the advice for walkers remains the same – learn how to spot the disease, look out for signs of it, report any cases and follow advice on signs.

Artist and outdoor enthusiast Joseph Anthony Connor creates paintings from inspiring photos sent to him via Twitter – could your next walking snapshot make the cut?

Dr Andrew Murray, the Scottish Government’s first Physical Activity Champion, was elected the President of Ramblers Scotland earlier this month.

We’ve teamed up with the NFU to remind people to take care when walking in fields with livestock this Easter.

Explore the best of spring on foot with Ramblers Routes - our online library of high-quality walking routes.

We’re getting excited about Get Walking Week – our free short walks festival encouraging you to get outdoors and get active.

Looking forward to leaving the thermals behind when you go out walking? We are too! It’s just as well that the latest edition of Walk magazine is here and it’s got a real spring in its step.

Mountaineering bodies have issued a joint safety reminder emphasising the need for preparation before heading out into the mountains.

Take a look at our new films which show what Ramblers membership can offer you around Wales.

Thriving Llanelli group and their family walks

Llanelli Ramblers started their walk along the Cambrian Way on Saturday with a sent off in Cardiff's Bute Park. The sun shone and the walkers had a great day for the first stretch of the walk.

Autumn’s nearly behind us and so it must be time for another edition of Walk, the magazine of the Ramblers, which will soon be landing on members’ doormats and newsstands. So what’s inside the new winter issue?

Following concerns about the spread of ‘ash dieback’ in British trees we’re issuing advice to walkers heading for the woods this autumn.

A plaque commemorating the late access campaigner Benny Rothman will be unveiled at his former home in Manchester today.

Explore your local forests on a guided walk this autumn. Woods are synonymous with autumn – the amber glow of the trees, leaves crunching under foot, the sight of rutting deer and the weather serving up anything from a crisp breeze and blue skies to moody damp days full of inviting puddles.

Our recommended walking holiday partner HF Holidays have been awarded two Guardian and Observer Travel Awards.

Join guided walks to famous film locations around London during our annual Films on Foot Festival.

We’re looking for walkers with a keen eye for detail to help quality-check our growing library of walking routes for independent walkers.

The Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire are looking for a part-time Project Officer to manage and develop the Lincolnshire Wolds Walking Festival.

If you regularly walk on roads, you can share your views about road safety in Britain by taking part in a survey being run by Brake, the road safety charity.

The nation is gearing up for another series of sporting spectaculars as the Paralympics draw closer, and you can stay one step ahead on a London 2012 led walk.

We're running a series of workshops throughout the autumn designed to help independent walkers learn the skills needed to develop great walking routes.

Ticketholders saw a different side of London 2012 over the last few weeks thanks to free led walks to Games venues in Weymouth, Eton Dorney, Essex and the capital.

The Wyre Forest Ramblers went on a walk around Much Wenlock, a town with close connections to the modern Olympics, on 15 July to celebrate the UK's Olympic year.

Those lucky enough to be going to the Games this summer will have a healthy and convenient alternative to travelling on public transport thanks to guided walks and cycle rides being run to London 2012 venues.

Mountain guide and former General Secretary of the British Mountaineering Council Roger Payne has died following a major avalanche in the Chamonix region in France.

During the summer months of June and July 2012, a group of pilgrims will undertake a 22 day journey across South Wales to St Davids. The inspiration for the journey has risen from the ancient spirit of pilgrimage but also an occasion to culturally celebrate the arrival of the Olympics to Britain.

Ramblers walking groups across Britain will be making the most of the longer July days by putting on a programme of open-to-all evening walks throughout the month.

Ramblers Cymru is inviting walkers to join a 22-day pilgrimage from Llanthony to St Davids taking place from 16 June to 7 July as part of the UK’s nationwide Cultural Olympiad celebrations.

In order to get a better insight into the work our volunteers do and show our support for their tireless efforts, staff at Ramblers central office took on volunteering roles from 21-27 May as part of staff volunteering week.

The summer issue of Walk – the magazine of the Ramblers – is due to land on members’ doormats and newsstands in just a few days and we couldn’t resist giving you a preview of what’s coming up.

The first major route change on the Cotswold Way National Trail for three years has opened through Lineover Wood near Cheltenham.

If the launch of the Wales Coast Path and the announcement of five more stretches of English coastal access have you itching for a stomp by the seaside, then make sure you don’t miss the Telegraph’s 50 Great Coastal Walks giveaway.

Following the Kinder 80 celebrations on Tuesday 24 April, twelve current and former Ramblers staff and two honorary Ramblers took the train to the Peak District for a long weekend on and around Kinder Scout.

The Countryside Code, which applies to England and Wales, has been updated for 2012 to encourage walkers and rural visitors to "respect, protect and enjoy" the countryside and advise land managers how they can help.

Countryside campaigner Kate Ashbrook has been announced as the new President of the Ramblers.

A section of the Moor House - Upper Teesdale National Nature Reserve in the North Pennines has had to be closed following an outbreak of the plant disease Phytophthora austrocedrae.

Tiger Bay Ramblers (TBR) celebrated their 10th anniversary on 20 August 2011 with a fantastic party at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff.