Whether you choose to access the countryside on foot, on a horse or in 4x4, there is a user organisation for you. But should you join one? And which one?
Unless you are only an occasional user of the countryside, joining a user organisation is a good idea. Not only will you be able to meet other people, the organisation will provide information specific to your use. Many will also represent your interest when it comes to changes to the Rights of Way network.
However, not all user organisations are equal. The countryside should be open to all responsible users. There are walking groups that want to see horse and motorcycle riders banned. There are cycling groups that want to deny access for everyone else. Wayfinder encourages legitimate access to the countryside for everyone regardless of the transport they use. We urge you to ensure any user organisation you join accepts that other groups have equal rights to the countryside.
As well as national groups, there are also local groups. These may be more suitable for you. Most will allow you to attend an organised trip or event to see if they are for you before committing to membership. Ultimately the choice is yours.
Finally, most user groups will have a Code of Conduct. You should check this to ensure that you are comfortable with it. Both being able to comply with it and ensuring it doesn't attempt to deny the rights of other groups.
We recommend these user groups although there are others that you will find from searching the web or by personal recommendation:
| For walking | OSS - Open Spaces Society |
| For horse riding and carriage driving | BHS - British Horse Society |
| For pedal cyclists | Cycling UK |
| For motorcyclists | TRF - Trail Riders Fellowship |
| For motorists and 4x4 | GLASS - Green Lane Association |
GLASS operates the excellent Trailwise which provides rights of way information specifically tailored to motorists. If you predominately use the Great British Countryside with a motor vehicle, Trailwise is highly recommended by Wayfinder.