Walkers Are Welcome

“WALKERS ARE WELCOME” IN DISLEY     
Disley’s successful bid to become a full member of this UK-wide national accreditation scheme was announced in December 2014 and the official launch took place in May 2015.

 ‘Walkers Are Welcome’ launch – Saturday 16th May 2015

A packed meeting of nearly 60 people at The Ram’s Head Inn, on Saturday 16th May, celebrated Disley’s successful bid for national accreditation as a walking-friendly destination. Presentations were given by David Rutley MP, Lyme Park Manager Cei Paynton, Chris Prescott (Walkers are Welcome), Tony Jackson (Disley Footpaths Society) and David Kidd (Disley Parish Council) on the positive benefits of walking, the attractions of Disley as a walking centre with excellent public transport links, and the ways in which accreditation can raise the profile of the village and increase tourism to the area.

Following the launch, four guided walks set off, each offering a ‘taster’ of the rich history and stunning landscapes that Disley has to offer. They were led by Chris Makepeace, Jean Windsor, Tony Jackson and Ivan Walton. The day proved to be a huge successThe day ended with a networking meeting with representatives from the two neighbouring Walkers are Welcome towns, New Mills and Bollington, sharing their experiences and exploring plans for joint walking festivals in future years.
Promotional leaflets were sponsored by Northern Rail, and the pubs and the café in the centre of the village all offered special Walkers are Welcome discounts on lunches throughout the afternoon. The weather was kind too!
The application for accreditation had begun a year ago, steered by Disley Footpaths Society with active support from the Parish Council and its officers, and wider support from local businesses and organisations – and from the village as a whole with nearly 400 signatures garnered for the required petition.

Walkers are Welcome is a unique community-led scheme, launched in 2007, and now has over 100 accredited towns and villages across the UK. Walkers are Welcome status brings a number of benefits.  It helps strengthen a village’s reputation as a place for visitors to come and enjoy the outdoors, bringing useful benefits to the local economy. It helps to ensure that footpaths and facilities for walkers are maintained in good condition, benefiting local people as well as visitors.

Disley’s accreditation is recognition of the variety of well-signposted, well-maintained walks in and around Disley and of the breathtaking views they afford. And it enables Disley to be part of a wider campaign to secure better facilities for walkers, the continued maintenance of our public footpaths, the development of way-marked trails and better access to the village by public transport. We’re also delighted to join neighbouring Walkers are Welcome members, Bollington and New Mills, in this rapidly growing scheme.

For further information about the scheme, visit: www.walkersarewelcome.org.uk  or contact Tony Jackson (Chair, Disley Footpaths Society) at tony@arjackson.plus.com