THE WEST RIDING No 158 | Jul 2019 Journal of the West Riding Area of the Ramblers’ Association COVER PHOTO: Tree above Castle Bolton (Colin Speakman) General Council – The Ramblers look to the future The Ramblers Association’s General them from taking a walk in open suggested that we should be telling them Council took place in Manchester in countryside, with the exception perhaps as much as they share with us. They April and as a first-time attendee, it was of the foot and mouth crisis. So the need to know what happens at Area a wonderful opportunity for me to get a danger is the assumption that rights level, indeed at a very local level – what sense of the Ramblers as a national body, of way and footpaths will exist forever, do we all do that works to galvanise rather than just here at a local level. It with no acknowledgement of a) the membership – what have we learnt also demonstrated to me that whilst we, campaigning that led to us being able to from our local walks from existent and as members, all share a love of walking, enjoy our rights of way in the first place prospective members? Without that and that (largely) the delegates were and b) all the work that goes on behind knowledge, they cannot create strategies white and within a certain age bracket, the scenes to protect these paths. to deploy nationwide. among us opinions could not be more diverse. I believe The Ramblers cannot keep Van Griffiths summarised the weekend drawing on past successes to galvanise as “a terrific weekend, with a palpable The afternoon engaged us in panel new membership and interest and sense of a united team, working together to discussion on “Values, Culture and instead a clearer message should be deliver essential change and committed to Inclusion” followed by the inevitable broadcast about why we still exist and supporting even more people to walk and to discussion on how can we encourage why we are still necessary. champion walkers’ rights.” more of the 9 million people who enjoy a good walk to join the Ramblers? At General Council I was reassured by I believe the RA is at a pivotal point; we Whilst personally I found the latter to the enthusiasm presented to delegates are playing catch-up (in my opinion) but be inconclusive; one value that was by the representatives of Central Office step-by-step progress is being made, with suggested was that we should show and equally I was relieved to hear that initiatives such as the new Ramblers App ourselves as “edgy and progressive” with there has been a certain amount of self- and Insight Hub. Communication will be an innovative, campaigning zeal at our realisation taking place. Van Griffiths, our crucial; the disconnect between Central core. Chief Exec, stated that in the past decade Office and “us” to be removed. the organisation has been acting in the This struck a chord with me. I believe capacity of a back-marker, but really we Most importantly, our membership may that the Ramblers need to remind current need to be stepping out ahead, staying well be in decline, but the clear message members, and advertise to the wider relevant to the current era, particularly in I received at General Council is that the public, what they actually do. And why, society’s move towards a digital era. heart and soul of the organisation is still therefore, they matter. very much alive; and the Ramblers will Another clear message that came from not go down without a fight! For “young people” whom it seems the General Council was that there should Ramblers are desperate to attract as not be a disconnect between Central Caroline Spalding members, nothing has ever prevented Office and the rest of us. They very much www.facebook.com/RamblersYorkshire www.ramblersyorkshire.org [email protected] Rambler 158.indd 1 03/07/2019 10:03 How affiliated walking clubs can help the Ramblers Association What is to be done? Have an annual conference for affiliated clubs. This would provide opportunities to the clubs for networking, mutual advice and support, pooling of expertise. The Ramblers Association would be able to present the holiday programme, and describe its ongoing work. This could be paid for by conference fee or sponsored by Ramblers Holidays or a mixture of these things. Group level. Ramblers Association members could give talks to affiliated clubs about such subjects as the work of the Ramblers Mill Falls, West Burton Association, and they can also give training on how to do (Colin Speakman) footpath work etc. Ray Wilkes, a member of the RA and Bradford’s CHA Rambling This would be resourced as available. Groups who had willing & Social Club sent in this piece, which although written volunteers would do this. There would be no obligation if it some years ago remains relevant to the topic of declining would be a burden. But it could be a promoted policy. membership. Here he suggests how membership can be accrued by better partnership with affiliated walking groups. Ramblers members should not be shy about joining affiliated clubs where they have an attractive programme. Some members General think this would be disloyal to the Ramblers Association. Local walking clubs are often active recruiters of non-walkers However, RA members could strengthen the club’s support of into the walking fraternity – they have no other distractions the Ramblers Association provided they did this appropriately. like campaigning! So they do help the Ramblers Association by They should not try to take over or push an apathetic club too maximising the numbers of walkers and potential recruits. hard! Financial This could help the RA where the local support was too weak for These clubs are a recruitment base for full Ramblers a proper RA group or where the walking programme was over- Association membership. subscribed. The Ramblers Association provides insurance and RA members Conclusion. get the benefit of a wider customer base. The RA and its groups should see the affiliated clubs as Ramblers Holidays - affiliated clubs are an accessible customer potential or actual allies and develop a positive relationship base. with them so that these clubs see the RA as a positive support to their activities. This would allow the RA to draw the Donations. Many non-affiliated clubs will make donations or maximum support of these clubs’ members, both as recruits or sell raffle tickets or help in other ways. of support short of full membership. Campaigning. It is accepted that this would have to be done within the The Ramblers Association (when addressing the media or existing financial and volunteer constraints. politicians) can include the membership of affiliated clubs as part of the large group of people we represent. Affiliated clubs can write letters on specific campaigns and Washburn Valley: An Appreciation encourage their members to do so. Even anti-RA people will Just after Bramhope as you go along the A660 towards Otley often support some local campaigns (wind farms, by-passes, you get et a surprise view of Lower Wharfedale, and at its far particular footpath closures). side you catch an enticing glimpse of the Washburn Valley. A Members of affiliated clubs may volunteer to help the local few yards before this viewpoint, Staircase Lane goes off on the RA groups with footpath work, whether it is campaigning or right. Its rapid descent into Wharfedale merits comparison practical work on the ground. with a staircase. E.g. Bradford CHA lobbied MPs as a group, supported by its Staircase Lane was the start of the route we took on my first individual members on the Access campaign. walk into the Washburn Valley, many years ago when I was a student at Leeds. Staircase Lane leads into Pool and after that The Ramblers Association can benefit both in cash and kind we walked to Leathley and up the Washburn Valley to Timble. from people who choose not to be a full member of the RA. The We filled ourselves with beer at the Timble Inn (a popular affiliated clubs are an easily accessible pool of such people. The West Riding Rambler No 158 | July 2019 Rambler 158.indd 2 03/07/2019 10:03 walkers’ pub for generations), and then we walked back to and Ilkley there was no rain at all. Otley lustily singing student songs. The beer didn’t cloud my memory to the extent that I failed to appreciate this wonderful Turn left for a few yards after crossing the present bridge, then, valley on the doorstep of Leeds. In the years thereafter, I have still on the Six Dales Trail, turn right and up the field on a path been lucky enough to walk most of the Washburn Valley’s paths that becomes increasingly steep. Leave the field at the top and to savour the blend of woodland, pasture and moorland, right-hand corner (good viewpoint) and follow the wall on the plus four reservoirs which fit seamlessly into the scenery. It is left. The path soon becomes an attractive green lane called now part of the Nidderdale AONB. High Lane. After about half a mile you reach the crossroads of paths close to the start of the walk and you carry straight on as you retrace steps to the car park. If you are lucky, the ice cream van will be there. Virtually all of the Washburn Valley used to be in the Forest of Knaresborough. The royal forests were not all trees, but local areas where royal hunting rights were protected.