The leading walking charity in the UK with a membership of over 120,000 and a network of volunteers working protect the public rights of way path network. The organisation was founded in 1935, and campaigns to keep the British countryside open to all.
11th May 2023The Ramblers Association
The Ramblers believes that walking can have a positive impact on people’s lives, and that rambling in the countryside and in urban places is a right and that it benefits everyone. It argues that our network of public paths is an invaluable part of its national heritage and that the relevant authorities have a duty to invest in them.
Since its inception, the Ramblers has campaigned for rights of responsible public access to land and has been instrumental in securing legislation including :
- National Parks & Access to the Countryside Act 1949, which created our National Parks, National Trails, the definitive map of rights of way and National Nature Reserves.
- Rights of Way Act 1990, a Private Members’ Bill, including directly assisting local Lincolnshire MP Edward Leigh to investigate the problems with ploughing and cropping of paths.
- Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000, known as the CRoW Act.
- Marine & Coastal Access Act 2009, bringing forth the England Coast Path.
They believe in the importance of walks for all communities, from all regardless of age and background. In the code of conduct, the organisation emphasises being welcoming, positive, empowering and environmentally responsible.
The Ramblers is recognised by Sport England as the sport governing body for “Rambling” in England.
It continues to defend the rights of the walking public, for example by opposing proposals to criminalise trespass and opposing some planned railway Level Crossing closures where the diversion is not suitable, for example taking walkers on to roads without pavements.
In the Lincolnshire Area, covering the Humber to the Wash, there are 10 local groups of the Ramblers at Boston, Grantham, Grimsby & Louth, Lincoln, Skegness & Horncastle, Sleaford, Scunthorpe, Spalding and Stamford with the Lincolnshire Walking Group is primarily aimed at people in their 20s & 30s . Over the years, several longer distance trails have been developed in the county including the Viking Way, Johnson-Silver Links Way, Danelaw Way, Lindsey Loop and Plogsland Round.
Each local group offers an extensive programme of led walks which can range in distance from 2 miles to 15 miles, and include Day Rambles, Pub Lunch Walk, Midweek Summer Evening Strolls and occasional Public Transport Walks.
All are welcome to join the Ramblers and take part in other activities including walks, rights of way surveys, practical path work and group committees.
The Ramblers have been partners of the Lincolnshire Wolds Outdoor Festival and its forerunner, the Lincolnshire Wolds Walking Festival, since its inception.
Contacts and information about walking in Lincolnshire and all group walks programmes are listed on our website at: