About Us
Hello and welcome to Portsmouth Ramblers'.
We extend a warm welcome to all new walkers, visitors and guests. Why not try us for a few weeks without any commitment. If you like what you see after a few walks, we will then ask you to join the Ramblers.
We offer a variety of walks across Hampshire, West Sussex and the Isle of Wight. On Saturdays we offer regular moderately paced 7 to10 mile walks whilst, on Sundays we have paced 11-15 mile walks. We also offer more leisurely paced walks 4-6 mile walks on every other Monday. In addition, we occasionally offer a shorter walk of 5-6 miles on a Saturday. On the Saturday and Monday walks the majority will end in an (optional) pub or cafe stop, whilst on a Sunday a pub stop is normally built into the lunch break.
The majority of our walks are circular, where this is not the case it will be clearly stated in the walk details with detailed information of how you will get back to the starting point after the walk has ended.
All of the walks have stops for coffee and, for the longer walks lunch, but not normally in a place where you will be able to buy refreshments, so please bring water, a flask and food with you.
The vast majority of our walks are ‘off road’ so it is essential that you wear solid footwear, which has a good grip. Whilst most paths we use are well walked, in wet weather they can become slippery, especially on ascent/descents so apart from possibly in the middle of summer normal trainer type shoes are unlikely to be up to the job. If you are new to walking and intending coming on one of walks, phone of message the walk leader in advance who will be able to offer advice as to the likely conditions. Similarly, it is advisable to carry a waterproof jacket on most walks. As with any outdoor activity in this country, you need to be prepared for changeable conditions. If you are new to walking you don’t have to buy expensive specialist gear. If in doubt contact the walk leader before joining a walk for advice.
We recognise that everyone walks at different speeds, so there will be breaks, especially after a steep ascent/descent, but we do ask everyone to not walk faster than the pace of the leader – after all, even if you know an area you may not know the route the walk leader will take.
We know some people like to bring their dog with them on a walk. In general we welcome well behaved dogs, but if you are intending to do so please check with the walk leader in advance that this is ok. Some walks, are less suitable for dogs than others, and we also need to ensure that there are not too many dogs on any one walk. All dogs will need to be on a lead when there is livestock around.
Whilst we endeavour to make as many walks as we can accessible by public transport, the reality is that this is not always possible. We realise that this disadvantages people who do not have their own transport, so we do encourage people to offer lifts where they can. We do have a Whatsapp group for lift sharing, and whilst it primarily operates on the Saturday walks it can help on others as well. If you would like to join this Whatsapp group please send an email with your mobile number to membership.secretary@portsmouthramblers.org.uk requesting that you be added to the group, or text similarly to 07870 643431.
In addition to our walks programme we also encourage members to get involved in such practical activities as footpath maintenance, whilst on the social side we arrange a number of activities including Christmas and annual meals, a skittles evening, and coach trip and walk.
The Ramblers Association, of which Portsmouth Ramblers is a part, is a national charity whose aim is to keep the countryside open to all and to fight for the things that matter most to walkers. It is dedicated to removing barriers so everyone can enjoy walking in green spaces and to preserving and improving hundreds of thousands of miles of well-loved paths, tracks and trails across England, Scotland, and Wales. We're committed to campaigning to keep our countryside open to all and to fighting for the things that matter most to walkers. Whilst much progress has been made in recent years with the establishment of National Parks and National Trails there’s still more to do. So the Ramblers continues to secure support from government and help construct national and local policies and programmes to build a future fit for everyone everywhere to walk outdoors. We keep on engaging communities and organisations across England, Scotland, and Wales to help us achieve our ambitions. And we’re opening up a world of walking opportunities for even more people. The Ramblers Association is a democratic, voluntary organisation, registered as a charity (no.1093577). More information on the work and ethos of the Ramblers can be found at https://www.ramblers.org.uk/
If you would like to know more about our group please e-mail our Chair Peter Rush at, membership.secretary@portsmouthramblers.org.uk or phone him on 07870 643431.