AREA INFORMATION

Wiltshire is a largely agricultural county covering 1,244 square miles (348000 hectares). Two highway authorities, Wiltshire County Council and Swindon Borough Council, are responsible for the maintenance of rights of way made up of 2455 miles of footpaths and 1013 miles of bridleways. Wiltshire has 7,856 Rights of Way amounting to 6,040km or 3,777miles. Four long distance paths run through Wiltshire, the Thames Path across the north, the Wessex Ridgeway across the centre and the Macmillan Way and the Monarchs Way in the north-west. Two shorter routes totally within Wiltshire are the Wansdyke Path and the Tan Hill Way.Volunteers from the Ramblers' Association contribute to the upkeep of all these routes by building and repairing stiles and gates, building bridges across streams and by cutting back hedges and other vegetation.

Members of the Ramblers' Association belong to five groups around centres of population: Chippenham (Chippenham Group), Devizes (Mid-Wiltshire Group), Swindon (North-east Wiltshire Group), Salisbury (South-Wiltshire Group) and Trowbridge (West-Wiltshire Group).In addition, there is a group catering for younger people ( Wiltshire Wanderers) in the age-range 18-39. They all produce programmes of walks led by group members. All groups welcome visitors, but expect that people wishing to walk regularly with them will in due course join the Ramblers' Association. If you fancy walking with a group of congenial people, why not come along to any walk or ring the secretary of your nearest group on the number given on the Groups page.

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