Finding Routes
Some ideas for finding routes which you might like to lead.
All 3 external sites below require a login, and it's best to login first. They all offer GPX download of routes, ie. sharing.
Note that many of our members would be happy to help you plan and recce a walk. And on the day, there will be plenty of help should you need it.
Ramblers Association
The best source of routes is the Ramblers Association.
Other Ramblers Groups
A very easy way to get started is to walk with another Ramblers Group, taking care to pay attention to the route, and to track it with a mapping app (see below). Ask for help on one of our walks to learn how to do this.
See Group Walks (enter a town near where you'd like to walk, hit Search, pick from the list, then hit Search again).
There are lots of Filters to help you find a walk: location, dates, day of the week, distance, difficulty, group.
Ramblers Association Routes
Thousands of walking routes submitted by members: see Routes (you must be logged in).
If you want to see the maps and be able to download the GPX you will need the following sequence (I'll produce a more detailed guide with images soon):
- Login to ramblers.org.uk >
- Click the top right menu >
- Choose Go Walking >
- Ignore the "Go Walking" search box >
- Scroll down >
- choose Find A Route >
- Enter a town/village into the "Find a walking route" search box >
- Select the appropriate suggested town/village >
- Hit the Search button >
- Select a walk >
- Scroll down to see the map, and all the way down to see the yellow "Download GPX Route File" button >
- Enjoy!
Staffordshire Area
The Staffordshire Area have routes which can be downloaded.
See their top menu 'Member Services' then 'Routes' for example:
Click on a walk (or a number if several walks are close together), and when a popup appears click the walk title (first line) to see the details including the ability to download the GPX file.
Mapping apps
The routes in these apps are a great resource. However they are submitted by app users, and definitely need to be pre-walked before taking a group. They are not necessarily publicly accessible, or safe. You have been warned.
Outdoor Active
Outdoor Active, see Outdoor Active routes.
- Free: OpenStreetMap (> 1:10K), basic route planning and finding, offline map saving (ie. downloading), and GPX export.
- Pro (Pro £25.67/year): Official topographic maps (eg. OS Explorer (1:25K) and Landranger (1:50K)), GPX import.
OS Maps
OS Maps, see OS Find Routes
- Free: Basic OS Standard mapping (typically 1:50K), route plotting, and following are free.
- Premium (£34.99/year): OS Explorer (1:25K) and Landranger (1:50K) maps, offline downloads and import & export of GPX files.
Previous walks
Previous Mid Staffs Ramblers walks, including the original description.
Mapped on the start location, which can be useful as an idea of where people used to park (will need to be checked).
Helpful notes on the Rambler's web site while you are planning: Planning a Walking Route. And on our web site: Leading Walks