Ramblers – what to expect from a guided walk

Until I became President of Ramblers Scotland, I’d never been on a Ramblers walk. Since then, however, I’ve been on more than 60 group walks, and some of these easily rank among the most memorable and enjoyable walks I’ve ever done.

But the biggest revelation about the Ramblers has been discovering beautiful places or hidden paths on my doorstep that I never knew existed. Walk leaders know their local patches better than anyone, and are keen to share them with you.

Ramblers does much more than organise walks. In its 90 year history, it’s worked to keep the countryside open to all, campaigned to expand access rights, and is currently fighting to save paths at risk of being lost. All walkers in Britain have benefitted from Ramblers work, whether they realise it or not. It's a great organisation to support and be a part of.

What’s more, Boundless Plus membership grants you free access to the Ramblers walking community and more than 50,000 routes.

Already a Boundless member? Simply log in to gain full access to all the offers and benefits included in your membership.

Not yet a member? If you're working in or retired from the public sector or civil service, Boundless has two great membership options to choose from: Boundless and Boundless Plus. Enjoy unlimited access or discounted entry to many of the UK’s top attractions, as well as year-round deals on restaurants, holidays, shopping and much more.

Finding Ramblers walks near you

You never know what you’ll encounter. Credit: Ben Dolphin.

There are more than 500 Ramblers groups across Britain. Each one organises its own walk programme, and together these amount to around 50,000 group walks every year.
 
Group walks take place both within their local areas, and farther afield. And while most people are looking to walk with their local group, once you’re a Ramblers member you can join any walk, anywhere, with any group. This is handy for exploring further from home, or for when you find yourself in another part of the country.
 
To find a walk close to you, use the Walk Finder and pop your town or postcode into the search box. Or use the Group Finder to see your local Ramblers groups.
 


A chance to walk and talk. Credit: Ben Dolphin.

How to join a Ramblers group walk

Most walks don’t require booking but if they do, the walk description will advise how to do so. Otherwise, you simply turn up at the listed time and place. Most groups are okay with dogs but it’s best to check with the group first.

What to expect

Each walk has a Ramblers leader, who has recced the route beforehand, and every walk listing has their contact details in case you have any questions. Don’t worry if you feel nervous before your first walk. Doing anything new can be scary, but Ramblers are a welcoming bunch and will make you feel at home.
 
Group size and composition varies. The smallest group I’ve walked with had just five people. The biggest had 37. Some groups tailor their programmes towards certain age groups or fitness levels, but most groups are open to everyone.

Beach walking in Fife. Credit: Ben Dolphin.

Across the country, Ramblers walks are as diverse as our landscape. I’ve walked around country houses, towns, city art trails, along rivers and canals, under motorways, through forests and over hills.
 
Admittedly, if you live in Cambridgeshire, your local group walks will be different in character to those in Argyll. But regardless of location, each Ramblers group tries to arrange a variety of walks; from short to long, easy to more challenging.

City walking with the Ramblers. Credit: Ben Dolphin.

At one end of the scale there are Wellbeing Walks, which cover easy ground and are taken at a steady pace to suit everyone. These can be as little as just 10 or 30 minutes around a local park.

At the other end of the scale, I’ve been on an eight-hour day up a big Scottish mountain, under full winter conditions with an ice axe and crampons!

Ramblers caters for all abilities – a more challenging hike with Lochaber & Lorn Ramblers. Credit: Ben Dolphin.
 
Crucially, you’ll always know what to expect because the length, duration, and difficulty are outlined in every walk description. However, it’s recommended to start with a shorter, easier walk so that you can familiarise yourself with the grading system.

What to bring on a Ramblers walk?

Ramblers enjoying a well-earned lunch break. Credit: Ben Dolphin.
 
The kit you need for a walk is determined by the walk, terrain and, of course, the weather. You don’t need to splash out on expensive kit to join a Ramblers walk, but you should certainly be prepared for all weathers.
 
For most walks, comfortable walking shoes or boots are desirable, and a small backpack for waterproofs, water, snacks etc. If in doubt, contact the walk leader for advice.
 
In my experience, everyone brings their lunch with them. Leaders usually have a nice lunch stop planned, where everyone sits and picnics. In the cooler months I’d recommend bringing a flask of hot tea, coffee or soup.

Benefits of walking with others

There’s certainly a safety aspect that comes from group walking, but it’s a good way of getting outside if you don’t have the confidence or knowledge to do so by yourself. You don’t need to stress about route-finding, but it’s a great opportunity to learn or improve those skills if you so wish.
 
I cannot overstate, however, how beneficial group walking is for mental health. Simply being outdoors in fresh air is good for us, but many Ramblers members tell me there’s something that happens when you walk alongside someone, which creates space to chat freely with a degree of anonymity – rather than talking face to face. Walking and talking is an amazing thing, and many people find this extremely cathartic.

You don’t always get a view! Credit: Ben Dolphin.

That’s not to say mental health is the point of a Ramblers walk, or that you are compelled or obliged to chat with anyone and everyone. Different people want different things from a group walk.

For many, it’s simply about getting outdoors or keeping fit. For others, the walk is secondary to the social aspect. But in my experience, walk participants are given the freedom and space to get as involved as they like, and everyone respects that.
 
Personally, I always enjoy the chat. Conversation comes and goes with many different people throughout a walk, and it’s interesting to meet such a diverse range of people from all walks of life, all with life stories to share. Many walk leaders or members will know something about the local history or wildlife, and this brings walks to life. I always feel content when I get home after a group walk, as I can feel I’ve been smiling all day.

Do more with Boundless

If you're working in or retired from the public sector or civil service, Boundless has two great membership options to choose from: Boundless and Boundless Plus.

With Boundless, you get unlimited access or discounted entry to many of the UK’s top attractions including Kew Gardens and Wakehurst and WWT centres across the UK, as well as year-round deals on restaurants, holidays, shopping and much more. With Boundless Plus, you can enjoy additional benefits including unlimited access to Historic Royal Palaces sites, National Trust for Scotland places, access to the Ramblers' extensive group walks and routes, and peace of mind with roadside assistance and local recovery by LV= Britannia Rescue.