We have a very proud tradition of hiking the great outdoors here in Ross, and with stunning Wye Valley on our doorstep and the scenic Forest of Dean just a stone’s throw away, who can blame us!
Visitors travel from far and wide to try this popular activity and explore our waymarked routes and more rugged trails. But having the local knowledge you need to enjoy the very best of the region’s hikes is the key to any successful trip to Ross-on-Wye. That’s where a local walking group comes in…
Walking as part of a group makes sense for so many reasons. We’ll let Countryfile share just a few of the benefits of joining a local walking group as a resident or visiting hiker:
“The thought of walking 16km could easily put you off. But when you’ve committed to going, you’re more likely to stick with it. Especially if the group is heading to a place you’ve always wanted to visit but never quite had the courage to go alone… When you’re with a crowd of people adventuring around a new place, or discussing last week’s episode of Countryfile with your new walking buddy, you can easily cover more ground without even realising you’ve done so.”
There are several walking groups locals and visitors can join right here in the area, full of passionate walkers who will be all too happy to take those new to Ross or individuals looking to discover more under their wings.
In this blog post, we share the local groups where walkers are always welcome.
Walkers are Welcome
If you’re familiar with hiking, you’ll have come across the Walkers are Welcome initiative long ago. The scheme, which launched in 2007, now has more than 100 groups across accredited UK towns and villages, and Ross-on-Wye is one of them.
The Ross Walkers are Welcome group is made up of volunteer walkers of varying levels of experience, including highly skilled guides and walk leaders. The group regularly runs guided walks and is responsible for hosting the area’s annual Walking Festival.
Ross & District Walking Group
With 30 years of history behind this group, visiting walkers will be in great hands with the Ross & District Walking Group. You’ll join some 120 members and have access to a wide range of walks.
The group runs walks twice weekly, and their chosen trails range from easy to hard in difficulty, and from 3 to 10 miles in length. They have a jam-packed itinerary for the year ahead, with their 7.5-mile Churcham walk, complete with picnic, expected to be a popular fixture for residents and visiting walkers.
Mental Health Mates
Walking is a great way to look after your mind, body and soul. With this in mind, our local Mental Health Mates walking group is a must-join for visitors.
The group is open to all ages and all levels of walking experience. It provides the perfect place to walk and talk with their gentle trails giving you access to the best scenes and a solid support network.
Ross-on-Wye District U3A
With more than just great walks on the menu, the Ross-on-Wye District U3A group provides a varied itinerary for getting involved in the local community.
Its members run both leisure and social groups, including a dedicated walking group that specialises in hosting gentler walks of up to 3 miles throughout the Forest of Dean, Blaze Bailey, Fownhope, Whitestones near Tintern, and Woolhope.
Herefordshire Ramblers
The Herefordshire Ramblers is another popular organisation that hosts walks throughout the county. They have four groups in total, each of which hosts a diverse programme of walks ranging from 2 to 15 miles so you can sample the very best of Herefordshire and beyond.
Looking to take on a hike solo? Try these incredible local hikes to view Ross-on-Wye and the surrounding area in all its glory.
