[Harumanbo Harucheonja] "Finding the Forgotten 80,000 km and Changing Policies" UK Ramblers

102,000 members, 25,000 volunteers, 16.7 billion KRW (11.9 million euros) in donations

These figures were recently revealed in the annual report (2021/2022) of the Ramblers Association, the UK's leading walking organization. Founded in 1935, the Ramblers is the only organization dedicated to removing obstacles so that everyone can enjoy walking in green spaces, improving the most popular as well as lesser-known walking paths. Unlike many domestic and international walking clubs and related organizations, the Ramblers is characterized by its organized and proactive approach. The main activities of the Ramblers include ▲promoting the joy of walking, ▲developing desired walking routes, ▲improving existing walking paths, and ▲advocating for policies related to walking.

One of the main activities of the British walking organization Ramblers is path maintenance. All are volunteers.
[Photo by Ramblers]

Last year, 150 volunteer groups maintained walking trails by cutting vegetation, repairing bridges, and installing signs. They also developed about 4,000 new walking routes. The lost paths discovered by Ramblers members and the general public amount to 49,000 miles (approximately 79,000 km) across the UK. Lost paths refer to routes that have been forgotten or are no longer used due to the passage of time or infrastructure development. Investigating these lost paths is driven by government policy. In England, many privately owned lands contain paths of historical and cultural value, leading civil society groups including the Ramblers and equestrian organizations to claim access rights. The English government initially set 2026 as the deadline to legally recognize these paths as 'rights of way' or else they would not be protected, but withdrew this after strong opposition. However, the government recently scrapped the promise, postponed the deadline to 2031, and conflicts have intensified again.

Another distinctive feature of the Ramblers is their wellbeing walks. These target anyone who used to enjoy walking but has lost stamina or those who want to start walking for health improvement. Ramblers walking leaders guide short walks along verified routes for these participants. There are about 30,000 such wellbeing walk groups nationwide. Funding for the organization comes from donations and sponsorships. Thanks to anonymous donors, the Path Accessibility Fund was established and is used to maintain and repair many walking paths to ensure accessibility for all. The Scotland walking map launched in autumn 2021 was also made possible by such donations. Volunteers created 145 walking routes centered on walking in 18 communities in Wales, clearing weeds and brush to develop the courses, installing 50 signs, and planting 2,633 trees.

Ramblers fights for the freedom to walk anywhere across the UK and the freedom to take a stroll. They also operate a Wellbeing Walk program that allows middle-aged and elderly people to walk comfortably.
[Photo by Ramblers]

The Ramblers state, "The freedom to roam provides everyone with the opportunity to go for walks, connect with nature, and explore beautiful outdoors," adding, "There should be a right to walk in nature without fear of trespassing on private land. It is one of the greatest things we can do to improve accessibility to outdoor activities for all." According to the Ramblers, residents in the poorest areas across England and Wales have to travel 48% farther to enjoy the freedom to roam, and people living in the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods must travel 73% farther.