Information and Documents
Helpful Information
The Ramblers Association was formed in 1935 by various federations of walking clubs which saw the need for a united body.
The charity operates in Wales under the name Y Cerddwyr/Ramblers Cymru and our constitutional aims are:
• to help all persons to a greater knowledge, love and care of the countryside;
• to protect the path network;
• to protect and enhance the beauty of the countryside;
• to promote access to open country;
• to promote walking.
In North Wales we try to achieve these aims through the work done by volunteers in our local groups whom we have strong links and share walks: Ynys Mon, Conwy Valley, Vale of Clwyd, Clwydian, Meirionnydd and Llyn Ramblers.
Please see the Ramblers website for all North Wales Walks.
We publish walks led by members familiar with their local areas and who are happy to share their knowledge and enthusiasm for walking in our beautiful countryside.
If you are not already a member of Ramblers please come along and join in a couple of the walks which are listed later and we hope the experience, and the information you will be given, will encourage you to join our charity.
Our walks make use of our wonderful paths network and as Ramblers we need to ensure that these are maintained in a good condition. The responsibility for this maintenance work may rest with local authorities but we all know that with reduced funding they are sometimes failing in this important duty. We have an increasing number of volunteers who form footpath maintenance teams that work with or under the guidance of local authority staff. If you think you would enjoy working in the fresh air to ensure our paths are well kept and, whether you are a walker or not, you are willing to help maintain our paths please contact your local Group and offer to join one of our volunteer teams. If you do come across a problem with the footpath please report it by following the advice on our Footpaths page.
Perhaps you are less inclined to go on our walks or join a footpath maintenance team but you would still like to contribute to our charitable aims. If so there is a range of other volunteer roles which we greatly value but which, perhaps, are less well publicised. Could you, for example, help us to keep an eye on the planning applications that are submitted to local authorities to ensure that any proposals do not ruin the beauty of the countryside or cut across the footpath network? We have volunteers who are looking for paths which, for one reason or another, have been left off the definitive map (the basis for OS maps) and which we will then make the case for inclusion – could you do some of this research for us? Access to our countryside was secured by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 which was promoted by Ramblers but there are still areas that are excluded but which we believe should be available for the public to walk – could you help us to get such areas included so that you and your friends and family can walk freely across them?
If you are interested in anything you have read above please contact us at www.ramblersnorthwales.org.uk
If you are not yet a member and would like to join a group of like-minded people please do consider joining our charity by contacting Ramblers’ Cymru Office, 3 Coopers Yard, Curran Road, Cardiff CF10 5NB, Tel: 0203 961 3310, or contact www.ramblers.org.uk
Existing members who change address should inform the Ramblers, 1 Clink Street, 3rd Floor, London, SE1 9DG Tel: 0203 961 3300 or online at www.ramblers.org.uk
Advice
Walk Grading:
Gives you an idea of how hard or easy a walk is e.g. Grade B 8 the approximate distance in miles.
A - Strenuous – mostly mountains, perhaps including scrambling; if easier terrain it will be long.
B - Challenging - walks for experienced country walkers with an above average fitness level. May include hills and rough country, and may be at a brisk pace. People in doubt about their fitness should contact the organiser or leader in advance.
C - Moderate - walks for people with country walking experience and a good level of fitness. May include some steep paths and open country.
D - Gentle - walks for reasonably fit people with at least a little country walking experience. May include unsurfaced rural paths.
E - Leisurely - walks for anyone who does not have a mobility difficulty, a specific health problem or is seriously unfit. Suitable for pushchairs if they can be lifted over occasional obstructions
General Rules
You are welcome to join any of the walks across Ramblers North Wales and not just your local ones but please make sure that you are familiar with the following important information.
1 Dogs – North Wales is predominantly a livestock farming area. Some members are frightened of dogs and others find them a nuisance on walks. We have narrow mountain and high cliff paths with sharp drops therefore Eryri Ramblers will not allow dogs on walks apart from registered assistance dogs. Those with assistance dogs should contact the leader beforehand to discuss stiles or other obstacles on the route.
2 Walks Cancelled - a walk may be cancelled for a number of reasons such as illness or the forecast of severe weather and in such circumstances the leader will not go to the start point. You can check with the walk leader but notice of cancellation will usually be found on the Group, Area or Walks Finder websites – details of which you will find on other pages. Be aware, however, a walk may be cancelled at the last minute and may not get on the web site.
3 Clothing/Kit – please dress appropriately for the grade of walk by wearing stout footwear and bringing waterproof clothing, sunscreen, and hat and gloves as appropriate. Bring along food and drink to suit your needs on the chosen walk. On winter mountain walks an ice axe is usually needed and crampons are often useful when snow and ice conditions are expected. A leader may refuse to take any person if they are not properly equipped for the conditions. Speak to the leader if you are in any doubt.
4 Fitness – a leader may refuse to take on their walk any person who does not appear fit enough for the proposed route
5 Photography – During a walk photographs are sometimes taken for publicity purposes or to appear on the Group website. Please inform the walk leader if you do not wish to be included in a photograph.
6 Young persons – Ramblers Cymru does arrange walks for school age children (these are known as Scramblers walks) but generally participants must be either 18+ or accompanied by a responsible adult.
7 Not a member – If you are not already a member of Ramblers please come along and join in two or three of the walks which are listed later and we hope the experience, and the information you will be given, will encourage you to join our charity.
8 Risk –Rambling involves certain risks and is based on self-reliance. You are responsible for your own actions, decisions and safety and the safety of those around you.
9 Emergencies – We strongly recommend that Ramblers members complete one of our ICE (In Case of Emergency) cards and always carry it in their rucksacks. This will provide our walk leaders with the basic information they will need in the unlikely event of you suffering a medical emergency. It will also provide you with the basic details you would need to contact the emergency services
10 Location App - we strongly recommend that you install the free OS Locate app on your phone. This has an accurate compass and gives your grid reference.
