National Chairman of Walkers are Welcome, Sam Phillips, from Ross, welcomed delegates from across the country to the recent National Annual Get-Together in Hebden Bridge. He also gave a special welcome to three delegates from the Japan Footpaths Association.

It was ten years ago that Hebden Bridge, in West Yorkshire, became the first ever Walkers are Welcome (WaW) town. Today, there are over 110 towns and villages which have been accredited, Ross became a WaW town in 2009.

To mark their10th anniversary the WaW National Committee conducted a survey to collate their many achievements and the results were presented at the meeting. They have created new walking routes – over 1200 routes covering over 6,400 miles; opened up routes that had been abandoned; launched walking festivals – representing 115 days per year and involving nearly 9,000 people; maintained thousands of miles of paths; promoted the use of public transport; publicised a wide variety of walking opportunities for all ages and abilities; and considerably helped to boost their local economies.

Two of the Japanese visitors gave lively presentations; one drawing a parallel between modern-day Japan and small UK towns with a very favourable opinion of the UK towns; the other suggesting we look into the possibility of UK and Japanese towns forming twinning links. At the end of the Get-Together, Sam was invited to Japan to speak at the Japanese Annual Conference next year.

The WaW scheme has put Ross-on-Wye firmly on the UK walking map, and has opened the eyes of local people, and visitors, to the walking opportunities on our doorstep.

The Ross Group, made up of ordinary people from the local community has some strong achievements to its credit. The Group has organised nine walking festivals, to date the Ross Group estimates it has brought over £130,000 into the Ross economy, bringing benefits to many local businesses.

The 2017 Ross Walking Festival was, once again a great success with bookings slightly down on 2016 but the enjoyment level, especially on the Cream Tea walk, at an all-time high. The walks in the festival were varied ranging from a stroll round the alleyways of Ross to a ten-mile tramp around Marcle Ridge. Repeat walks this year included the steam train ride and a lunch cruise on the Wye.

Two perennial vistors returned, George Westlund and Katherine Burton, from Illinois, USA and a gentleman from Australia really enjoyed the Broome Farm alpacas. The Ross Group would like to thank the many sponsors of the festival. Without their generosity the event could not be run and it is, without doubt, a great showcase for Ross.

The program for the 2018 festival is almost complete and will be published early in the New Year. The Group will continue its work to bring the pleasures and benefits of walking to an ever-wider audience, and to offer a warm welcome those who help to sustain local businesses and facilities.