Our path network is our gateway to the outdoors. And for millions of us, walking on paths is the primary way we gain access to nature. But while our paths are open to us all, unnecessary barriers can block far too many of us, especially those with reduced mobility, from enjoying their benefits. 

According to Natural England, over 20% of England’s population cannot currently use our network of public rights of way. And from stiles and steps to overgrown paths, our public paths can be full of barriers to access.    

So in 2021 thanks to the support of an anonymous donor, we established the Path Accessibility Fund. Dedicated to making sure our path network can be enjoyed by more of us, the Fund supports projects to make paths more accessible, particularly focusing on removing the barriers that prevent those with reduced mobility getting outdoors. 

How you can get involved 

In 2023/24, our Path Accessibility Fund enabled significant accessibility improvements on public paths.  

The funding round for 2025 is now closed but we will be reopening for applications in the new financial year 2025-26. So, if you’re interested in applying to the Fund, check out our FAQ document first. 

This has all the information you need about the type of applications we’re looking for, what applications must have to be considered and how much funding is available for each project.  

If you have any further queries about the application form or the fund, please email paths@ramblers.zendesk.com