One of the main advantages of joining the LDWA is getting Strider three times a year, in April, August and December. In it you will find details of Challenge Events for the next 6 to 8 months, so that you can plan ahead. Full details of Local Group walks are also given and, as an LDWA member, you are free to join any group social walk.

Group social walks provide good opportunities to meet people of common interests and to find out about other group activities, e.g. monthly pub meetings, group newsletters, helping on checkpoints (an integral part of being an LDWA member, we believe), etc.

Many of the challenge events published in Strider have a reduced entry fee for LDWA members and many Outdoor shops give discounts to LDWA members.

Membership is open to all whether they are currently active walkers or not. The membership year is January 1 to December 31. Members joining on or after October 1 will be granted membership for the whole of the following calendar year.

Challenge Events

A Challenge event is a longer, organised, walk mostly on footpaths and other Public Rights of Way, across open fields and moors, avoiding tarmac as much as possible. The challenge is to the individual, e.g. 30 miles in 10 hours, it is NOT a race.

Social Walks

There are currently 42 local groups and being a member of one of these is great fun! Indeed, without them the LDWA would not exist. Local groups host regular group walks led by one of their members and some also organise social events and longer trips.

Long Distance Paths

Want to find out about a long distance path? This website includes a searchable database of over 1,500 UK paths and trails covering more than 88,000 miles. Path information includes maps, publications, and accommodation near the path.

100 Mile Challenge

The annual 100 mile event is the LDWA's flagship event. Held every year in a different part of the country, to coincide with the late May Bank Holiday, up to 500 people gather to walk 100 miles in 48 hours.