What is Walkers are Welcome?

Walkers are Welcome (WAW) is a community led initiative to promote towns as places that have something special to offer walkers of all kinds. Towns and villages who seek Walkers are Welcome must fulfil six criteria to gain accreditation:

· Demonstrate local support for the concept.
· Gain formal endorsement for the application.
· Ensure that footpaths and facilities for walkers are well maintained.
· Market the WaW scheme.
· Encourage walking via public transport.
· Demonstrate how WaW status will be maintained.

Obtaining Walkers are Welcome status, as a growing number of communities across Britain are doing, brings a number of benefits. It helps strengthen a town's reputation as a place for visitors to come to enjoy the outdoors, bringing useful benefits to the local economy. It also helps to ensure that footpaths and facilities for walkers are maintained in good condition, benefiting local people as well as visitors.

Ilkley has been successful in demonstrating all six criteria. Find out what makes Ilkley a Walkers are Welcome town.