National Trails: A fantastic future The Ramblers

1.0 National Trails – a fantastic future executive summary

National Trails are the crown • Expanded network – bringing jewels for walking in the UK. National Trails within the reach They receive over 12 million of most of our population visitors per year, but even so, • Increased economic benefit we are only scratching the surface – the South West Coast Path alone is estimated to generate £307 million in terms of their potential. for the regional economy annually and supports 7,500 jobs Through the roll-out of the England Coast Path and the potential for • Strong local involvement and expansion in all directions, National decision making – the paths Trails can have a fantastic future: in the hands of the communities they run through National Trails need a • A growing symbol of our beautiful countryside both here and national champion. The Ramblers internationally. has the experience, expertise and ambition to deliver a fantastic future for them.

Benedict Southworth Chief Executive, The Ramblers National Trails: A fantastic future

Creating a fantastic The Ramblers – Key Recommendations • The creation of a National future – the best the right partner for Trails Trust both to oversee its national delivery and to way forward a fantastic future maintain quality standards The best way to secure a fantastic The Ramblers were key to the creation • Local management and future for the National Trails is through: of the National Trails and we can help delivery led by Local Trail • Creating a National Trails Trust: realise a fantastic future for them. Partnerships incorporated to support the development of the As the leading walking organisation as charitable trusts (Local network; establish and maintain in the UK, with an army of 18,000 Trail Trusts) allowing greater quality standards; increase local volunteers and a history of inspiring accountability, certainty and involvement; raise funds, and people to venture into the great the ability to fundraise manage the promotion of the trails outdoors. The Ramblers are the only • One set of quality standards nationally and internationally organisation who can deliver the scale consistently applied across and expertise to promote the National • Creating a local charitable trust for the family of National Trails, Trails on a national and international each of the Local Trail Partnerships overseen by the National level, and the local reach to inspire to enhance local decision making Trails Trust and empower the communities and provide the freedom to promote through which they pass. We are the • The promotion of National each trail and raise funds natural champion for our National Trails is extremely important Trails and the natural custodian for to their success, so the a new charity, the National Trails Trust. management of the promotion contract for National Trails should sit within the National National Trails are hugely Trails Trust. important to the outdoors industry and generate millions of pounds for the economy every year. A National Trails Trust as proposed by the Ramblers would see the trails thrive which would be of great benefit to those who use National Trails as well as those whose businesses rely upon them.

Andrew Denton Chief Executive, Outdoor Industries Association

1 The Ramblers

2.0 National Trails – a fantastic future

Our National Trails already inspire more than 12 million visitors 2.1 Expanded network a year to enjoy the countryside and get active outdoors – but we are only scratching the surface in terms of their potential. The Ramblers has a vision of bringing National Trails within the reach of the whole population. National Trails offer National Trails can stretch further across the countryside, bringing them the chance to be active, to engage with within reach of millions more people. They can attract greater visitor nature, to be challenged or calmed, to numbers: helping a wider range of people to get outside, breathe fresh share moments with loved ones or to air and re-engage with nature. They can bring new money into struggling take time out for quiet reflection. These rural economies and encourage local people to be proud of their local benefits should be available to all. countryside and environment The future England Coast Path and Our National Trails can be the envy of the world, bringing all this and more. other well-loved long distance routes They deserve a fantastic future. could be brought into the National Trails family: holding them up to the same exceptional standard of walking and bringing the wonder of National Trails a step closer to millions more.

On a grand scale

Approx visitor V&A numbers from British Association of Museum Leading Visitor 2.6m 1.4m Attractions 2011 survey

St Paul’s Cathedral Tower of London 1.9m 2.4m National Trails Tate Britain London Zoo Stonehenge 12,000,000 1.7m 1m 1m

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2.2 Increase in economic benefit 2.3 Local involvement 2.4 Raised awareness

National Trails generate huge amounts The Ramblers has a network Our National Trails should be of money every year. The South of more than 18,000 local volunteers recognised throughout the world West Coast Path alone injects £307 who already bring huge amounts of as the gold standard of walking. million into the regional economy expertise, knowledge and enthusiasm At home and abroad all our fantastic and supports more than 7500 jobs. to their work in protecting, promoting National Trails, not just the famous More than 70% of accommodation and improving their local footpaths. Pennine Way, should be recognised providers within one mile of the trail as outdoor experiences par excellence. consider it to be an important selling A local organisation incorporated point for their business with 40% as a charitable trust – a Local The startling breadth and variety of tourism spend in the region made Trails Trust – would represent the of walking, cycling and horse riding by visitors to the Coast Path interests of all local volunteers and opportunities which England’s local bodies, binding them to the National Trails offer should mean that A newly invigorated National Trails success of the National Trail as well whether a family looking for a fun day network could deliver increased as properly utilising the full range out or an experienced hiker looking economic benefits to all the of their experience and expertise. for a challenge, the first place they communities through which they would turn to is our National Trails. pass. Some of these communities People will far more readily volunteer are among the most struggling rural and get involved with a charitable trust towns and villages in the country. than they would a local authority-led partnership.

Canal & Rivers Trust Value of South West Coast Path to the 2,000 miles regional economy

£307m 2,500 miles National Trails

3 The Ramblers

3.0 National Trails – the best way forward

As a national asset, our National Trails need a national organisation to support, develop and promote them. The best way forward would be to set up a National Trails Trust.

A National Trails Trust would ensure consistently high quality standards for the trails, raising the bar for walking experiences. The creation of a charitable trust would also lessen the burden on over-stretched local authorities. And as a charity, it would be able to raise funds and even further raise the profile of these national treasures. The National Trails Trust would inspire local involvement in the management and development of the trails through the introduction of Local Trail Trusts. And it would help to develop the network, ensuring the smooth integration the England Coast Path and extending the Trails reach.

A National Trails Trust would do all of this and more, helping our National Trails reach their full potential.

National Trails Trust Provides promotion, quality standards, guidance and support to Local Trail Trusts

Cleveland Cotswold Hadrian’s North Downs Offa’s Dyke Way Trust Way Trust Wall Trust Way Trust Path Trust

Pedders Way/ Pennine Pennine The Ridgeway South Downs North Norfolk Way Trust Bridleway Trust Way Trust Trust Trust

South West Coast Thames Path Yorkshire Wolds Path Trust Trust Way Trust

The Ramblers Supports the system with expertise, ambition and experience

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3.1 Developing the network 3.2 Raise standards

The Ramblers has a vision of National Trails enjoy a higher profile bringing National Trails and their and attract more visitors than any multiple benefits within the reach other part of the ‘right of way’ network of the whole population. A National or other promoted routes. This is in Trails Trust would be the right part because they offer a consistently organisation to nurture, develop high-quality user experience. and extend the current network. A National Trails Trust would make The network is already growing. National Trails even better. The England Coast Path will double the length of National Trails in England It would work with Local Trail Trusts People were walking some and yet current proposals offer no to set rigorous quality standards adequate solutions as to how this governing path and infrastructure of Britain’s National Trails as long path will be integrated. A National quality across all trails and ensure ago as the Iron Age. A National Trails Trust would be able to work these standards were applied across Trails Trust as suggested by the alongside Local Trail Partnerships the network. Ramblers would ensure that to take a leading role in deciding how people are still walking these trails best to manage new sections of the Setting and enforcing these standards England Coast Path and ensuring is vital to the on-going success in another 2,500 years’ time. this new national path has a national of National Trails. Quality standards Dr Mike Heyworth charity to oversee it. give users – many of whom come British Council for Archaeology from overseas – confidence that The creation of the England Coast their recreational experience will Path is well underway and needs be consistently good and reassure to be integrated into the network. them that routes will be easy to use But it is not the only addition that and navigate. can be made; for example many walkers and businesses alike have Quality standards would be an been asking for the Coast to Coast integral part of the Trails’ management path to be given National Trail status. – defined nationally by the National A National Trails Trust would take Trails Trust and delivered locally on the role of proposing new by Local Trail Trusts. National Trails, or altering them, to the Secretary of State, powers which Natural England has suggested they feel unable to use. When new National Trails are created, a National Trails Trust would also oversee the formation of new Local Trail Partnerships and their ongoing success.

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The benefits of a National Trails Trust 3.3 Increase local involvement 3.4 Raise funds

The Ramblers network of volunteers The National Trails Trust would play As a charity, a National Trails Trust bring huge amounts of expertise, a major role in the recruitment of local could seek funding for National knowledge and enthusiasm to their volunteers through its promotion of Trails above and beyond what is work in protecting, promoting and National Trails. It would also provide currently available. improving their local footpaths. training and support on volunteer recruitment, and co-ordinate backroom Central government funding is Strong local involvement and functions such as volunteer insurance. essential to the National Trails decision-making will make National network. But a National Trails Trust Trails better and more secure. In turn, The Ramblers would help assure each could seek grant funding as well National Trails will deliver increased of the Local Trail Trusts by appointing as investigating visitor payback benefits – economic and intrinsic – a local person to each local trust’s schemes, commercial partnerships to the local communities through Board of Trustees. and general fundraising appeals. which they pass. As a national charity, a National Trails At the moment Natural England’s Trust would be far better equipped proposals do not actually promote to access this sort of funding than more local involvement. Instead, would a Local Trail Trust on its own. it suggests handing responsibility over to loosely defined ‘Local Trail That said, as charitable trusts in their Partnerships’ where – inevitably due own right, Local Trail Partnerships to their financial contribution – local would be also be able to fundraise – authorities could call the shots, and though this would be likely to be on where the voices of volunteers, user a smaller, more local scale. groups and other interested bodies might not be heard.

A local organisation incorporated as National Trails offer a charitable trust – a Local Trails Trust some brilliant opportunities for – would represent the interests of all local volunteers and local bodies and horse-riders. A National Trails make the most of their experience Trust would secure their future and expertise. People will far more and assist in making a larger readily volunteer and donate money percentage of the trails available to a charitable trust than they would to horse riders in the future. to a local authority-led partnership. Mark Weston Director of Access, Safety and Welfare, British Horse Society

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The benefits of a National Trails Trust The benefits of Local Trails Trust 3.5 Higher profile 3.6 Benefits of Local Trail Trusts

It is logical that the promotion The proposed Local Trail Partnerships of National Trails should sit within the should be constituted as charitable management of the National Trails trusts – Local Trail Trusts. This would Trust. The charity profile of the Trust have several benefits over a straight would enable it more easily to raise partnership model. the profile of the Trails and reach out to attract new audiences. A charitable trust would encourage a real sense of local ownership and The National Trails Trust would responsibility by binding local people lead on promoting all aspects of and organisations to their National the National Trails network, across Trail through its Board of Trustees. the family of routes, supported by It will also be easier to recruit these Our National Trails provide grass-roots activity from Local Trail volunteers to a charity than it would a vital escape back to nature. This Trusts and other local groups. This be to a local authority-led partnership. would allow the huge commercial national asset needs a national opportunities connected with the A Local Trail Trust could raise its organisation to properly promote network to be explored, building own funds. While Government funding and protect them and ensure that on the already high levels of existing of the trails is essential, Local Trail future generations can continue public recognition. Trusts – using already established to walk in our footsteps. frameworks of charitable reporting National Trails offer the chance and governance – would be able Sir Chris Bonington to for people to enjoy the outdoors, to fundraise. This could be through Mountaineer and Explorer interact with nature and lead applying for grants or general healthier lifestyles though the fundraising appeals. many opportunities to be active. By developing the network, raising Local Trail Trusts would also lessen standards and increasing local the burden on local authorities and involvement, a National Trails Trust provide a greater degree of security would be able to boost the attraction and certainty over the distribution of the Trails and bring these benefits, of public money. and many more, to a greater number of people. The Ramblers would help assure the success of Local Trail Trusts by appointing a local person to each of Trusts’ Board of Trustees.

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4.0 The Ramblers – the right partner for a fantastic future

The Ramblers is the only organisation which has the skills, ambition and experience to set up and support a National Trails Trust. The Ramblers were instrumental to the creation of the National Trails and we can secure a fantastic future for them.

As the largest walking organisation in Mission the UK, with the support of thousands As Britain’s biggest walking charity, of volunteers and a history of inspiring the Ramblers are the experts in people to venture into the great outdoors walking, the countryside and rights and discover the benefits of walking of way. The Ramblers’ charitable in towns, cities and countryside, the mission is for Britain to be a place Ramblers is the only organisation who where people choose to go walking, can deliver the national scale and and where it’s easy and enjoyable expertise necessary to promote the to do so; managing the promotion, National Trails effectively, and the local protection and development of reach to inspire and empower the the National Trails through the communities through which they pass. stewardship of a National Trails Trust, would be a key part of this mission. History It was the Ramblers first General From walk leaders through to Secretary, Tom Stephenson, who path-work teams, our network of first pioneered the idea of the Pennine over 18,000 volunteers comprises Way in the 1930s and the Ramblers extremely dedicated individuals who worked hard to bring the trail into work tirelessly to ensure our charitable existence. Our unique heritage and objectives are delivered in their local history, and the central role Ramblers area. Many Ramblers volunteers played in the creation of the National already work to protect and promote Trails network, mean that National National Trails. It is this unrivalled Trails have been in the Ramblers volunteer infrastructure that ensures ‘DNA’ for decades. Our members, the Ramblers would be ably equipped volunteers, supporters and the wider not only to deliver for National Trails public will view our guardianship nationally but also to engage and of them as a positive move and an promote them to the public at a local obvious part of the Ramblers legacy. level on the ground.

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Experience

The Ramblers has nearly 80 years of experience of successfully As Britain’s biggest improving, protecting and promoting rights of way across the country. walking charity, Ramblers has Taking care of the jewels of our footpath network would be second the experience and expertise nature to us. necessary to set up a National Taking over from Natural England as the hosts for the recently divested Trails Trust which would deliver ‘Walking for Health’, the Ramblers has shown its ability to manage great outcomes for all people who a national asset, providing all the information and resources necessary enjoy our great outdoors. to support local delivery whilst championing the project nationally. Tim Lamb The Ramblers also has extensive experience of promoting walking Chief Executive, to new audiences and increasing public knowledge and enjoyment Sport and Recreation Alliance of walking and the countryside. We know how to inspire the next generation of Trail enthusiasts and introduce England and Wales’ iconic walking infrastructure to new and existing audiences, leading to an increase in the number of trail users.

It is clear from our past involvement in National Trails, including in their creation, that the Ramblers are deeply committed to their future. The Ramblers would be the right partner to ensure a fantastic future for National Trails now, and for future generations.

9 National Trails are the gold standard for walking in Britain and should be protected and promoted as such – Ramblers is the only organisation who can guarantee a fantastic future for National Trails.

Janet Street-Porter Journalist and broadcaster

Contact us For more information about the Ramblers and National Trails: Call 020 7339 8500 Email [email protected] Visit www.ramblers.org.uk

The Ramblers’ is a registered charity (England & Wales no 1093577, Scotland no SC039799) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (no 4458492). Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW.