Walkers are Welcome

Walkers are Welcome
Name	Walkers are Welcome
Formation	2007
Type	Community-led network
Region served	United Kingdom
Headquarters	Hebden Bridge

Walkers are Welcome is a UK-based volunteer-led network promoting walking tourism, footpath maintenance, town accessibility, and community-led visitor strategies across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Founded by local activists in the 2000s, the network links parish councils, town councils, civic societies, and tourism bodies to encourage sustainable rural and urban walking, waymarking, and public engagement.

History

The scheme emerged from local initiatives in Hebden Bridge, Peak District communities, and Cotswold parishes influenced by leaders from the Ramblers, Campaign to Protect Rural England, and National Trust volunteers. Early milestones involved partnerships with Yorkshire Dales National Park authorities, Lake District National Park stakeholders, and the South Downs Society, drawing endorsements from Walk England advocates and support from parish and town councils such as Alnwick, Ambleside, and Bakewell. Expansion followed collaborations with regional organizations including Natural England, Scottish Natural Heritage, VisitBritain, and VisitEngland, and engagement with civic groups like the Campaign for National Parks, CPRE, and the Countryside Alliance. Key events intersected with policy frameworks around public rights of way, access land designations, and Local Access Forums in Cumbria, Devon, Cornwall, Gloucestershire, and Suffolk.

Objectives and Criteria

The network’s objectives include conserving footpaths promoted by the Ramblers, enhancing visitor welcome exemplified in towns like Keswick, Northallerton, and Hebden Bridge, and encouraging partnership with national bodies such as English Heritage, Historic England, and the Environment Agency. Accreditation criteria require town councils or civic trusts to demonstrate maintenance plans with parish councils, provide waymarked routes with mapping produced by Ordnance Survey data, and show links with visitor centres, National Trust properties, and Youth Hostels Association hostels. Towns must demonstrate community involvement akin to Home Counties civic groups, evidence of liaison with county rights-of-way officers in Norfolk, Oxfordshire, and Hampshire, and commitments that align with Local Nature Reserves, Sites of Special Scientific Interest designations, and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty management plans.

Membership and Accreditation Process

Membership is granted after a local steering group—often comprising parish councillors, Ramblers representatives, and tourism officers—submits an application demonstrating compliance with criteria used by bodies like the British Mountaineering Council, Forestry Commission, and Sustrans. Accreditation involves assessment by regional coordinators who liaise with county councils, National Parks authorities such as Peak District, Lake District, and Snowdonia, and statutory consultees including Natural Resources Wales and Historic Environment Scotland. Accredited towns sign a charter, commit to annual reporting similar to town twinning arrangements with European partners, and maintain records comparable to those held by Civic Trusts, AONB offices, and Destination Management Organisations.

Activities and Events

Local groups organise guided walks in collaboration with Ramblers branches, walking festivals mirroring events in the Yorkshire Dales, Lake District, and Pembrokeshire, and seasonal activities promoted via VisitScotland and VisitBritain platforms. Events include footpath clearance with volunteers coordinated through British Trust for Ornithology and Wildlife Trust partnerships, waymarking campaigns supported by Ordnance Survey mapmakers, and training days with representatives from the Fire and Rescue Service, British Mountaineering Council, and Mountain Rescue teams. Collaborative cultural programmes feature links with museums such as the National Railway Museum, Tate galleries, and local archives, and educational outreach with schools involved in Scouts, Girlguiding, and Duke of Edinburgh Award activities.

Impact and Evaluation

Evaluations draw on indicators used by VisitEngland, Office for National Statistics tourism metrics, and local economic assessments by county councils, Chambers of Commerce, and Destination Management Organisations. Reported impacts include increased visitor numbers to market towns like Ludlow, Alnwick, and Richmond; improved footpath condition metrics comparable to National Parks authorities; and enhanced community cohesion as reported by parish councils and civic societies. Independent assessments reference datasets maintained by Natural England, Scottish Natural Heritage, and Historic England, and partner research from universities such as Lancaster University, University of Exeter, and University of Leeds.

Notable Member Towns

Notable member towns and parishes include Hebden Bridge, Ambleside, Keswick, Alnwick, Ludlow, Bakewell, Richmond, Northallerton, Matlock, Ashbourne, Hay-on-Wye, Otley, Skipton, Settle, Ilkley, Bowness-on-Windermere, Ambleside, Coniston, Keswick, Ambleside, Grasmere, Ambleside, Harrogate, Whitby, St Ives, Padstow, St Austell, Fowey, St Ives (Cornwall), Oban, Fort William, Inverness, Ayr, Hexham, Hexham, Thirsk, Malton, Filey, Bridlington, Scarborough, Scarborough, Scarborough, Dartmouth, Torquay, Salcombe, Exmouth, Lyme Regis, Weymouth.

Funding and Governance

Funding mechanisms mirror models used by parish councils, district councils, National Parks authorities, and charities such as the National Trust and Ramblers. Sources include local council grants, National Lottery Community Fund awards, donations coordinated via civic trusts, sponsorship from local businesses and Chambers of Commerce, and in-kind support from volunteers and partner organisations including Sustrans, Forestry Commission, and Community Rail Partnerships. Governance is overseen by a national coordinating committee with representatives from accredited towns, regional coordinators, and advisors drawn from bodies like Natural England, VisitEngland, Scottish Natural Heritage, and Universities with expertise in rural studies.

Category:Walking in the United Kingdom