Ramblers
Encyclopedia
The Ramblers, formerly known as the Ramblers' Association, is the largest walkers'
rights organisation in Great Britain
which aims to look after the interests of walkers (or ramblers). It is a charity
registered in England and Wales
and in Scotland
, with around 123,000 members.
of Kinder Scout
, the highest point in the Peak District
. During the mass trespass, the Ramblers present scuffled with the Duke of Devonshire's Gamekeepers and 5 Ramblers were arrested. This mass trespass is often seen as the pivotal turning point in the history of the Ramblers. In 1934 it was decided to change the Council's name, and so on 1 January 1935, the Ramblers' Association was officially created. On the 21 and 22 April 2007, the Ramblers celebrated the 75th anniversary of the illegal trespass of Kinder Scout
and the imprisonment of those who participated.http://www.ramblers.org.uk/Celebrating+75+Years+at+the+Heart+of+Walking
From 1948 onwards its secretary was Tom Stephenson
, who was a leading campaigner for open-country access and for the first British long-distance footpath, the Pennine Way
.
.jpg)
The Ramblers association and its members long felt that there was a need for a change of image following on from the last change in 1987. Research commissioned by Ramblers found that people perceived its members as old men with beards and bobble hat
s marching
through the countryside. Its image was bordering on parody, which both embarrassed and amused the Ramblers. London-based brand agency Spencer du Bois, which specialises in not-for-profit organisations, was commissioned to create and effect the rebranding. It surveyed all members of Ramblers, receiving almost 6,000 responses, to find the aims and values that the charity wanted to convey externally. It was apparent that there was a shift in emphasis within the Ramblers, away from elderly and retired middle class
and predominantly white Caucasian
members walking in the countryside, towards a younger and more ethnically diverse membership for whom walking was an increasingly urban
activity. The rebranding exercise was targeted towards this new and evolving demographic. In 2009 the Ramblers association was re-branded as the "Ramblers" at a cost of £35,000 and a new logo emerged incorporating a younger, fresher, and more all-inclusive urban image.
In summary, the aims of the charity are:
(the CRoW Act). Access in Scotland is even more liberal: the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003
made Scotland among the most walking-friendly countries in Europe, along with the Nordic countries, with walkers having the right to access virtually all land.
The Ramblers argues that Britain's network of public paths is an invaluable part of its national heritage and that the relevant authorities have a duty to invest in them.
Each of the Ramblers groups is structured into areas. Each group sends representatives to an area committee. Once a year a general council is held, whereby representatives from each area meet to discuss the priorities of the Ramblers for the forthcoming year. The trustees that are legally responsible for the Ramblers are also elected during this.
A criticism of Ramblers groups is that they traditionally attract retired heterosexual middle class people on walks and not people of other age groups or people from ethnic minorities. However, there is a concerted effort to change this legacy with the growing numbers of Ramblers groups being formed specifically for people in their 20s and 30s. The largest one being the Metropolitan Walkers
based in London. Increased emphasis towards urban pedestrian walking is hoped to also attract those from ethnic and other minority and underprivileged groups. Whilst the Ramblers have attracted new members from younger age groups, there is still a lack of ethnic diversity within its membership when viewed as a percentage of overall Ramblers membership. http://www.ramblers.org.uk/gwkw/partners/gwkwbackground.
In order to broaden the Ramblers appeal and membership demographic, a recent initiative to be implemented has been the Gay City Strollers, a collaboration between the Ramblers and the Lesbian and Gay Foundation Manchester. The project is an urban walking programme targeted at the city's gay and lesbian community.http://www.ramblers.org.uk/news/Latest+news/Get+Walking+with+the+Gay+City+Strollers
- and urban
-based and out of touch with Ramblers Scotland
and other ramblers groups. Funding cuts also resulted in the threatened closure of the Wales office of the Ramblers Wales and redundancies at Ramblers headquarters in London. Hike, a magazine aimed at Ramblers aged 18–30, was discontinued and there was also a reduction in spending on Rights of Way, Countryside Protection and Freedom to Roam both by Areas & Groups to £82k (2008: £133k), and centrally to £2.3m. (2008: £2.7m).
The Countryside and Rights of Way Act, granting the freedom to roam in the open countryside in England and Wales, was passed in 2000.
The Ramblers was at the forefront of those campaigning for a consistent scheme of access to the whole coast of England and Wales (under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009).
A campaign in the summer of 2003 was conducted "to work for safer road crossing points for users of public rights of way" in order to make the authorities and the public at large aware of the attendant dangers of crossing some extremely busy roads while walking.
Long-distance footpaths, some of them ancient, have been maintained in conjunction with local authorities, and their use has been encouraged and promoted by the charity. It is in this way that walking on the Pennine Way
, the Pilgrims' Way
, the Saxon Shore Way
, Offa's Dyke
, The Ridgeway
and many others, as well as innumerable shorter paths, has become very popular over the years. Gloucestershire
-area members of the Ramblers were also responsible for devising (in 1953) and promoting the line of the Cotswold Way
.
Along with the Long Distance Walkers Association
, the Ramblers is recognised by Sport England
as the governing body
for "Rambling" in England.
The Ramblers were previously campaigning against the expansion of Stansted airport, as this will be detrimental to the enjoyment of walking in the area. Ramblers Walking Holidays Ltd, the commercial arm of the Ramblers and the largest commercial financial contributor to the Ramblers, also offers flights from Stansted airport.
The Ramblers is active in promoting "walking for health" schemes (under its "Get Walking, Keep Walking" initiative).
Throughout its history, the Ramblers have often been involved with other countryside user groups and landowners.
Notable confrontations are:
Madonna
won a battle against the Ramblers in 2004 after Ramblers were banned from the pop star's country estate for half the year because of the risk of being shot. Fifty-four acres of the 1132 acres (4.6 km²) Ashcombe Estate on the Wiltshire/Dorset border were opened to walkers under new right-to-roam laws, but the Countryside Agency agreed that ramblers will be banned from the open part of the land from September to February—during the shooting season. During the rest of the year the small section of land will be open.
Jeremy Clarkson
, the TV presenter and Top Gear host who lives on the Isle of Man
, became frustrated at the lack of privacy at his home when ramblers deviated from a pathway to take photographs of his dwelling, hoping to catch a glimpse of the star. Clarkson's property bordered a small 250-metre strip of land that had no definitive status as a public right of way but was used by walkers regardless. Clarkson aimed to close access to this small strip of his land, thereby forcing ramblers to take a small diversion to stick to the official public Right of way and therefore protecting his claimed right to privacy on his own property. In May 2010 the former transport minister, Hon. David Anderson MHK, accepted the conclusions of a public inquiry that all except five of the paths claimed at the inquiry as Public Rights of Way have been dedicated as public rights of way and should be added to the Definitive Map.
Nicholas Van Hoogstraten
, the millionaire property tycoon, has had a long-standing dislike of and dispute with Ramblers, describing them as "scum of the earth". In 1999 Mr Hoogstraten erected a large fence across a footpath on his country estate in East Sussex. Local Ramblers staged a protest against the erection of the fence outside the boundary of Mr Hoogstraten's estate. On 10 February 2003 and after a 13-year battle and numerous legal proceedings, the path was finally re-opened.
Locally, walks vary in length: short distances of three to four miles (6 km); a medium range of five to six miles (10 km), or seven to nine miles (14 km); or for the more experienced ramblers, ten to fifteen miles (24 km). Consideration is given to the difficulty of the course and the terrain, whether stiles, steep hills, and busy roads are to be crossed, and the number of members who may be expected to take part. Ramblers take their turn in volunteering in advance for the list of leaders of the walks. Leaders walk out the designated route in order to reconnoitre it, bearing in mind that certain features of the route may change before the actual day of the walk. Crops in fields growing or harvested, foliage on trees changing, footpaths overgrowing—all will make a difference to what Ramblers will encounter. With many walking groups consisting of elderly people, particular care is taken to ensure that the walk is both feasible and not too strenuous for these individuals.
Lunch will normally be taken en route and may consist of a picnic or a lunch taken in a pub that welcomes Ramblers. Historical problems with group size, dirty boots, and general anti-Ramblers prejudice means that not all pubs welcome Ramblers; therefore, the walk leader will be familiar with suitable pubs to visit before the walk. Sometimes a pub may be used as a starting and end point for the walk but this can create problems for pub owners due to the capacity of the pub's car park.
Many members of the Ramblers are not active members of a group however, but are members to support the access and advocacy work of the Association. Similarly, there are many members who are not users of long-distance paths, but are more interested in preserving the diversity of the existing footpath network. The majority of Ramblers will drive to the walk starting point, but car sharing is encouraged to lessen the environmental impact of car usage.
Walking
Walking is one of the main gaits of locomotion among legged animals, and is typically slower than running and other gaits. Walking is defined by an 'inverted pendulum' gait in which the body vaults over the stiff limb or limbs with each step...
rights organisation in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
which aims to look after the interests of walkers (or ramblers). It is a charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
registered in England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
and in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, with around 123,000 members.
History
In 1931, the National Council of Ramblers' Federations was formed because walkers felt that a national body to represent their interests was needed. On 24 April 1932, the Communist-inspired "British Workers Sports federation", frustrated at the lack of resolve of the newly-formed Ramblers, staged a mass tresspassMass trespass of Kinder Scout
thumb|left|North flank of Kinder ScoutThe mass trespass of Kinder Scout was a notable act of willful trespass by ramblers. It was undertaken at Kinder Scout, Derbyshire, in the Peak District of England, on 24 April 1932, to highlight that walkers in England and Wales were denied access to areas of...
of Kinder Scout
Kinder Scout
Kinder Scout is a moorland plateau in the Dark Peak of the Derbyshire Peak District in England. Part of the moor, at 636 m above sea level, is the highest point in the Peak District, the highest point in Derbyshire, and the highest point in the East Midlands. It is accessible from the villages of...
, the highest point in the Peak District
Peak District
The Peak District is an upland area in central and northern England, lying mainly in northern Derbyshire, but also covering parts of Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, and South and West Yorkshire....
. During the mass trespass, the Ramblers present scuffled with the Duke of Devonshire's Gamekeepers and 5 Ramblers were arrested. This mass trespass is often seen as the pivotal turning point in the history of the Ramblers. In 1934 it was decided to change the Council's name, and so on 1 January 1935, the Ramblers' Association was officially created. On the 21 and 22 April 2007, the Ramblers celebrated the 75th anniversary of the illegal trespass of Kinder Scout
Kinder Scout
Kinder Scout is a moorland plateau in the Dark Peak of the Derbyshire Peak District in England. Part of the moor, at 636 m above sea level, is the highest point in the Peak District, the highest point in Derbyshire, and the highest point in the East Midlands. It is accessible from the villages of...
and the imprisonment of those who participated.http://www.ramblers.org.uk/Celebrating+75+Years+at+the+Heart+of+Walking
From 1948 onwards its secretary was Tom Stephenson
Tom Stephenson
Tom Criddle Stephenson was a British journalist and a leading champion of walkers' rights in the countryside.In the First World War he was imprisoned as a conscientious objector....
, who was a leading campaigner for open-country access and for the first British long-distance footpath, the Pennine Way
Pennine Way
The Pennine Way is a National Trail in England. The trail runs from Edale, in the northern Derbyshire Peak District, north through the Yorkshire Dales and the Northumberland National Park and ends at Kirk Yetholm, just inside the Scottish border. The path runs along the Pennine hills, sometimes...
.
Re-branding
Bobble hat
A Bobble hat or Bobble cap is a colloquial term for a knit beanie or tuque trimmed with a yarn "bobble" or pom-pom upon the crown. Bobble hats are generally considered utilitarian cold weather wear...
s marching
Marching
See also: Loaded marchMarching refers to the organized, uniformed, steady and rhythmic walking forward, usually associated with military troops.Marching is often performed to march music, and often associated with military parades....
through the countryside. Its image was bordering on parody, which both embarrassed and amused the Ramblers. London-based brand agency Spencer du Bois, which specialises in not-for-profit organisations, was commissioned to create and effect the rebranding. It surveyed all members of Ramblers, receiving almost 6,000 responses, to find the aims and values that the charity wanted to convey externally. It was apparent that there was a shift in emphasis within the Ramblers, away from elderly and retired middle class
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
and predominantly white Caucasian
Caucasian race
The term Caucasian race has been used to denote the general physical type of some or all of the populations of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Western Asia , Central Asia and South Asia...
members walking in the countryside, towards a younger and more ethnically diverse membership for whom walking was an increasingly urban
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
activity. The rebranding exercise was targeted towards this new and evolving demographic. In 2009 the Ramblers association was re-branded as the "Ramblers" at a cost of £35,000 and a new logo emerged incorporating a younger, fresher, and more all-inclusive urban image.
Charitable objectives
The Ramblers has five main charitable aims as detailed below from the Ramblers Charity Commission summary:In summary, the aims of the charity are:
- To promote walking
- To safeguard paths
- To increase access for walkers
- To protect the countryside
- To educate the public
Ethos and core beliefs
The Ramblers as a charitable organisation believes in the power of walking. A belief of the organisation is a recognition of the positive impact that walking can have on people's lives. Although it is a membership-based organisation, the Ramblers believes that its work benefits society as a whole, and a core belief is that the countryside should be for Ramblers. Since its inception, the Ramblers have campaigned for full rights of responsible access to all of Britain's green spaces, culminating in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000
The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 is a UK Act of Parliament which came into force on 30 November 2000.As of September 2007, not all sections of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act have yet come into force...
(the CRoW Act). Access in Scotland is even more liberal: the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003
Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003
The Land Reform Act 2003 is an Act of the Scottish Parliament. It created a framework for responsible access to land and inland water, formalising the tradition in Scotland of unhindered access to open countryside, provided that care was taken not to cause damage or interfere with activities...
made Scotland among the most walking-friendly countries in Europe, along with the Nordic countries, with walkers having the right to access virtually all land.
The Ramblers argues that Britain's network of public paths is an invaluable part of its national heritage and that the relevant authorities have a duty to invest in them.
Structure
There are 485 Ramblers' groups in about 50 areas, and around 350 other affiliated bodies, such as societies especially interested in walking and pedestrianism, for example the Footpath Society.Each of the Ramblers groups is structured into areas. Each group sends representatives to an area committee. Once a year a general council is held, whereby representatives from each area meet to discuss the priorities of the Ramblers for the forthcoming year. The trustees that are legally responsible for the Ramblers are also elected during this.
A criticism of Ramblers groups is that they traditionally attract retired heterosexual middle class people on walks and not people of other age groups or people from ethnic minorities. However, there is a concerted effort to change this legacy with the growing numbers of Ramblers groups being formed specifically for people in their 20s and 30s. The largest one being the Metropolitan Walkers
Metropolitan Walkers
The Metropolitan Walkers is a walking group in London mainly for people in their 20s and 30s. It is part of the Ramblers Association. Formed in 2001 it is now the largest Ramblers 20s and 30s group in the country with some 800 members. They organise four walks most weekends, ranging from 5 to 20...
based in London. Increased emphasis towards urban pedestrian walking is hoped to also attract those from ethnic and other minority and underprivileged groups. Whilst the Ramblers have attracted new members from younger age groups, there is still a lack of ethnic diversity within its membership when viewed as a percentage of overall Ramblers membership. http://www.ramblers.org.uk/gwkw/partners/gwkwbackground.
In order to broaden the Ramblers appeal and membership demographic, a recent initiative to be implemented has been the Gay City Strollers, a collaboration between the Ramblers and the Lesbian and Gay Foundation Manchester. The project is an urban walking programme targeted at the city's gay and lesbian community.http://www.ramblers.org.uk/news/Latest+news/Get+Walking+with+the+Gay+City+Strollers
Funding cuts
In 2009 the Ramblers introduced funding cuts due to the loss of membership revenue with a 5000 reduction in membership numbers. Ramblers suggested this "certainly resulted in part from difficulties we have experienced in processing and servicing memberships during the year. Also, the economic downturn coupled with a large structural reorganisation and a reduction in marketing has had an impact too." Although the economic downturn was cited, this was against a background of increased retail sales of walking gear during the economic downturn. The funding cuts were especially difficult for Ramblers Scotland who saw funding cut by 75% to just £100,000 per annum. Ramblers Scotland was told to reduce staff numbers from 7 to just 2 and to close their office in Kinross. Dennis Canavan, the chairman of the Ramblers Scotland, mailed every Scottish Ramblers member about the possibility of forming a totally independent Scottish walking group as it was felt that having a London-based Ramblers association meant the Ramblers was too LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
- and urban
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
-based and out of touch with Ramblers Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and other ramblers groups. Funding cuts also resulted in the threatened closure of the Wales office of the Ramblers Wales and redundancies at Ramblers headquarters in London. Hike, a magazine aimed at Ramblers aged 18–30, was discontinued and there was also a reduction in spending on Rights of Way, Countryside Protection and Freedom to Roam both by Areas & Groups to £82k (2008: £133k), and centrally to £2.3m. (2008: £2.7m).
Achievements
The Ramblers was at the forefront of those campaigning for a consistent scheme of access to the whole coast of England and Wales (under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009).
A campaign in the summer of 2003 was conducted "to work for safer road crossing points for users of public rights of way" in order to make the authorities and the public at large aware of the attendant dangers of crossing some extremely busy roads while walking.
Long-distance footpaths, some of them ancient, have been maintained in conjunction with local authorities, and their use has been encouraged and promoted by the charity. It is in this way that walking on the Pennine Way
Pennine Way
The Pennine Way is a National Trail in England. The trail runs from Edale, in the northern Derbyshire Peak District, north through the Yorkshire Dales and the Northumberland National Park and ends at Kirk Yetholm, just inside the Scottish border. The path runs along the Pennine hills, sometimes...
, the Pilgrims' Way
Pilgrims' Way
The Pilgrims' Way is the historic route supposed to have been taken by pilgrims from Winchester in Hampshire, England, to the shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury in Kent...
, the Saxon Shore Way
Saxon Shore Way
The Saxon Shore Way is a long-distance footpath in England, starting at Gravesend, Kent and traces the coast as it was in Roman times as far as Hastings, East Sussex, in total.-History:...
, Offa's Dyke
Offa's Dyke
Offa's Dyke is a massive linear earthwork, roughly followed by some of the current border between England and Wales. In places, it is up to wide and high. In the 8th century it formed some kind of delineation between the Anglian kingdom of Mercia and the Welsh kingdom of Powys...
, The Ridgeway
The Ridgeway
thumb|right|thumb|The ancient tree-lined path winds over the downs countrysideThe Ridgeway is a ridgeway or ancient trackway described as Britain's oldest road...
and many others, as well as innumerable shorter paths, has become very popular over the years. Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
-area members of the Ramblers were also responsible for devising (in 1953) and promoting the line of the Cotswold Way
Cotswold Way
The Cotswold Way is a long-distance footpath, running along the Cotswold Edge escarpment of the Cotswold Hills in England. It was officially inaugurated as a National Trail on 24 May 2007 and several new rights of way have been created.-History:...
.
Along with the Long Distance Walkers Association
Long Distance Walkers Association
The Long Distance Walkers Association is a British association whose aim is "to further the common interests of those who enjoy Long Distance Walking". It was established in 1972 and has over 6,000 members...
, the Ramblers is recognised by Sport England
Sport England
Sport England is the brand name for the English Sports Council and is a non-departmental public body under the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as the governing body
Sport governing body
A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport...
for "Rambling" in England.
Present campaigns
The Ramblers have just launched (2010) a campaign to monitor the level of funding cuts to highway authorities, as it is believed these will have a significant impact on footpath provision.The Ramblers were previously campaigning against the expansion of Stansted airport, as this will be detrimental to the enjoyment of walking in the area. Ramblers Walking Holidays Ltd, the commercial arm of the Ramblers and the largest commercial financial contributor to the Ramblers, also offers flights from Stansted airport.
The Ramblers is active in promoting "walking for health" schemes (under its "Get Walking, Keep Walking" initiative).
Confrontation with landowners
Notable confrontations are:
Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
won a battle against the Ramblers in 2004 after Ramblers were banned from the pop star's country estate for half the year because of the risk of being shot. Fifty-four acres of the 1132 acres (4.6 km²) Ashcombe Estate on the Wiltshire/Dorset border were opened to walkers under new right-to-roam laws, but the Countryside Agency agreed that ramblers will be banned from the open part of the land from September to February—during the shooting season. During the rest of the year the small section of land will be open.
Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson is an English broadcaster, journalist and writer who specialises in motoring. He is best known for his role on the BBC TV show Top Gear along with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May...
, the TV presenter and Top Gear host who lives on the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
, became frustrated at the lack of privacy at his home when ramblers deviated from a pathway to take photographs of his dwelling, hoping to catch a glimpse of the star. Clarkson's property bordered a small 250-metre strip of land that had no definitive status as a public right of way but was used by walkers regardless. Clarkson aimed to close access to this small strip of his land, thereby forcing ramblers to take a small diversion to stick to the official public Right of way and therefore protecting his claimed right to privacy on his own property. In May 2010 the former transport minister, Hon. David Anderson MHK, accepted the conclusions of a public inquiry that all except five of the paths claimed at the inquiry as Public Rights of Way have been dedicated as public rights of way and should be added to the Definitive Map.
Nicholas Van Hoogstraten
Nicholas van Hoogstraten
Nicholas van Hoogstraten is a British businessman and real estate magnate. van Hoogstraten is known for his business empire as well as his controversial life story: In 1968, he was convicted, and sent to prison, for paying a gang to attack a business associate...
, the millionaire property tycoon, has had a long-standing dislike of and dispute with Ramblers, describing them as "scum of the earth". In 1999 Mr Hoogstraten erected a large fence across a footpath on his country estate in East Sussex. Local Ramblers staged a protest against the erection of the fence outside the boundary of Mr Hoogstraten's estate. On 10 February 2003 and after a 13-year battle and numerous legal proceedings, the path was finally re-opened.
How the groups work
Lunch will normally be taken en route and may consist of a picnic or a lunch taken in a pub that welcomes Ramblers. Historical problems with group size, dirty boots, and general anti-Ramblers prejudice means that not all pubs welcome Ramblers; therefore, the walk leader will be familiar with suitable pubs to visit before the walk. Sometimes a pub may be used as a starting and end point for the walk but this can create problems for pub owners due to the capacity of the pub's car park.
Many members of the Ramblers are not active members of a group however, but are members to support the access and advocacy work of the Association. Similarly, there are many members who are not users of long-distance paths, but are more interested in preserving the diversity of the existing footpath network. The majority of Ramblers will drive to the walk starting point, but car sharing is encouraged to lessen the environmental impact of car usage.
See also
- Right of public access to the wildernessRight of public access to the wildernessThe freedom to roam, or everyman's right is the general public's right to access certain public or privately owned land for recreation and exercise...
- Backpacking (wilderness)Backpacking (wilderness)Backpacking combines the activities of hiking and camping for an overnight stay in backcountry wilderness...
- Walking in the United KingdomWalking in the United KingdomWalking is claimed to be the most popular outdoor recreational activity in the United Kingdom. The country has a comprehensive network of rights of way, which permit easy access to the countryside as well as wilderness areas....
- HillwalkingHillwalkingIn the British Isles, the terms hillwalking or fellwalking are commonly used to describe the recreational outdoor activity of walking on hills and mountains, often with the intention of visiting their summits...
- ScramblingScramblingScrambling is a method of ascending rocky faces and ridges. It is an ambiguous term that lies somewhere between hillwalking and rock climbing. It is often distinguished from hillwalking by defining a scramble as a route where hands must be used in the ascent...
- Youth Hostels Association (England & Wales)Youth Hostels Association (England & Wales)The Youth Hostels Association is a charitable organisation, registered with the Charity Commission, providing youth hostel accommodation in England and Wales...
- Scottish Youth Hostels AssociationScottish Youth Hostels AssociationThe Scottish Youth Hostels Association , founded in 1931, is part of Hostelling International and provides youth hostel accommodation in Scotland...
External links
- Ramblers' Association official website as it is now called "Ramblers"
- http://www.ramblers.org.uk/gwkw/partners/gwkwbackground
- http://www.ramblers.org.uk/membership/about/joinand-share-the-joy
- Gay City Strollers initiative
- Charity Commission summary for the Ramblers
- Ramblers 2010 Business plan
- Walk: the Magazine of the Ramblers
- The Ramblers campaign against expansion of Stansted Airport
- Ramblers Holidays
- Scottish Ramblers funding crisis
- Synopsis of Ramblers in Crisis 2009
- Crisis meeting. Leeds 2009
- Ramblers re-branding
- The Naked Rambler
- Madonna V Ramblers
- Jeremy Clarkson V Ramblers