Then and now – the Ramblers ask YOU to join them on 31st July in Sheffield

16/07/2010

On Saturday 31st July, Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire Ramblers invite you to join them to retrace the footsteps of walkers of old, and celebrate the 75th anniversary of Britain’s walking charity.

This year, special Ramblers 75th birthday batons have been making a historic journey around Britain as walkers carry a baton from region to region, celebrating the Ramblers work to make Britain one of the most walking friendly countries in the world.

At the end of July, Ramblers will walk from Sheffield to Eckington along routes that existed 75 years ago, passing the birthday baton from Yorkshire to Derbyshire, to launch a month of birthday activities across the East Midlands. What remains? And what’s gone for good? Will you still be walking along ‘cinder tracks’? What is a chantrey and who was Chantrey? Join them on their historic journey to find out!

Tom Franklin, CEO of the Ramblers, comments:

“For 75 years, the Ramblers has existed as Britain’s walking charity, to help everyone – no matter who they are or where they’re from – experience the joy of walking.

“Now we’re asking everyone, of all ages and walking levels, to get out, celebrate walking and help us pass on the baton for future generations.”

The walk begins at 9:45am at The Chantrey Inn, Chesterfield Road, Woodseats, Sheffield on Saturday 31st July. For more information about the baton walk please visit: www.ramblers75.org.uk/baton-walks

For more information on the Ramblers 75th Anniversary visit www.ramblers75.org.uk

ENDS

For more information contact the Ramblers press office 0207 339 8532/ 07801 749 385 press@ramblers.org.uk,

Notes to editors:

• The Ramblers is at the heart of walking in Britain. Everyone walks, so the Ramblers is for everyone.

• It is Britain’s walking charity. It works to make it easy for everyone to walk, whether in countryside, cities, hills, coasts and on or off the beaten track.

• It is a grass roots network of over 12,000 volunteers who work tirelessly for a walking Britain. For 75 years it has helped build and protect Britain’s 150,000 mile long path network, it runs over 28,000 walks a year, and campaigns for better walking routes and more walking opportunities.

• It holds more than 500 led walks every week, throughout the year, which are free to try, open to everyone, and take place in England, Scotland and Wales in the countryside and the city alike.