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Welcome to the website of the Warwickshire Area Committee of the RAMBLERS, a registered charity supporting walking and improving access for walking routes.
What we do: Through an Area Committee elected by local members, we assist in the work and actions of RAMBLERS groups in our area, and represent them at national membership level through nominated representatives.
- Our Area Groups: are combined in this one area covering Warwickshire and West Midlands county boundaries. They're listed on Contacts page.
- Our Aims: To co-ordinate the efforts and interests of the Ramblers Groups in our domain, to advise on national policies, coordinate policiy and activities, and cooperate with separate councils in maintaining pathways under their statutory duties for Public Rights of Way (PROW) concerning safety and reasonable ease of publics access.
Our Area AGM was held on 28th February in Hampton-in-Arden followed by a choice of walks. The Area Annual Report including accounts is available.
Path news re what we campaign for
Great news for walkers and follows years of campaigning by the Ramblers. It's a step in the right direction for the government towards making it a reality for more people to enjoy the benefits of walking and connecting with nature. Setting a deadline meant that any paths not applied for by that date would no longer be able to be added to maps based on historical evidence and risked being lost forever.
- After years of campaigning by the Ramblers, the government had abolished the deadline of 2026 and there was some relief that that would allow respite for out lost and forgotten footpaths to be register without too much hurry—and these things do take time to research and get recorded in a defined manner. But in December 2024, a new deadline was set for 2031.
- Recently, in December 2024—and under a new government—it was “all change”, and that deadline was repealed. Hopefully, Local authorities will now have the time required to properly assess whether paths meet requirements to be added to the “definitive map”. Again, we are relieved a little of the pressure of an arbitrary deadline in England or Wales that put so many of our rights of way at risk
- The definitive map is the legal record of public rights of way, which was established by the Atlee government when the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act was ‘passed’ in 1949”. The Council holds these maps, but they can usually be seen at local libraries, depending on Council policy and scheme for updating them.
About the walks...
During seasons of unpredictable rain and sudden flooding of paths, please consult the latest programme information or contact the indicated walk leader to confirm the walk will be as previously scheduled.
- Sometimes a change of start or route will be necessary at short notice—at the walk leader’s discretion—based on their original risk assessment or on more recent reconnoitre. Please check for cancellations in inclement weather conditions.
- During a possible risk of Covid-19 affecting members, please check what events are being run, because programmes may alter for that reason. There may also be a limit on the number of walkers considered safe to attend the walk, so it’s best to contact the Group or the walk leader to clarify this, and book your place where requested.
About our committee meetings...