Who we are
Walkers are Welcome is a UK-wide community-led network of accredited towns and communities whose purpose is to develop and promote walking in areas with something different to offer visitors and walkers. It is a non-profit making Community Interest Company launched in 2007 to encourage towns and villages to be welcoming to walkers.
We now have over 100+ member towns with a steady flow of applications for membership. Prestatyn and Meliden was the first community in Wales to be awarded this status in 2007 and is renewed on an annual basis by Prestatyn & District Festival of Walking.
Our aims are to help towns and villages to:
- Be attractive for walkers with excellent information on local walks
- Ensure that footpaths and facilities for walkers are maintained, improved and well signposted
- Contribute to local tourism plans and regeneration strategies
- Promote the health benefits of walking and increase participation
- Encourage the use of public transport
Tourism/economic benefits include:
- Attracts more people to visit our town to walk, shop and dine yielding economic benefits for business through increased footfall
- Promotes local visitor attractions
- Strengthen the town’s reputation as a visitor destination at the northern end of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB
- Compliments towns’ economic regeneration/tourism plans
- Demonstrates that visitors and walkers will be given a warm welcome by the businesses and the local community
Testimonials
Julia Bradbury, the nation’s favourite walker, expressed her support by saying: “The Walkers are Welcome Scheme is a truly innovative project. It’s such a simple concept: set up an accreditation scheme for walk-friendly towns, then encourage the towns to network together for support, advice and ideas. That simplicity has led to jaw dropping success…”
Kate Ashbrook, Patron and director of WaW and Chairman, Vice-President and trustee of The Ramblers, says: “Walkers are Welcome has grown at an astonishing pace as more and more towns and villages have seen the benefits of accreditation and have come on board. Now walkers know that, if they see the friendly footprint logo, they are assured of a warm welcome throughout the town, and a good path network and waymarked walks round about. So everyone benefits – visitors, residents and the local economy.”
For more information go to https://walkersarewelcome.org.uk. For local information contact Malcolm Wilkinson on 07785 271807 or malcolmray@supanet.com.